Francisco Luzón’s story is one of those impressive cases of self-improvement, vitality and mental strength.
His origins were very humble: he was born to a modest family, in El Cañavate, a small rural town in the province of Cuenca with less than 200 inhabitants. His family emigrated to Baracaldo (Vizcaya) and spent his childhood with few financial resources.
His talent and tenacity allowed him to study and be a successful bank manager who stood out for his innovation (President of Argentaria, Head of Latin America at Santander …).
And at the same time a man strongly committed to society in multiple projects: education (Universia, the most important network of universities in Latin America), health (from the Foundation for Aid against Drug Addiction) or his land (as President of the Council University of Castilla La Mancha) or culture (National Library).
An example of a self-made person whose ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) truncated his peaceful retirement a few years ago. A devastating and today incurable disease. A disease that progressively eliminates the mobility of muscles and affects 4,000 people in Spain and some 500,000 in the world.
Luzón could have dedicated himself to enjoying in a “different” way the few years that remain. Family supports and financial resources are not lacking. This is what many doctors and friends recommended. However, he decided to be faithful to his values of being a leader and social transformer, taking advantage of his extensive previous business management experience.
This is the purpose of the Luzón Foundation: to give a voice to these patients and to promote research with the best specialists in the world in this disease unknown to society.
“The trip is the reward: my fight for life” are his memories. In them his success career is recounted but the emphasis is on his love for life (“the future is today”) and how his values were forged through his education, his family and his childhood in the Basque Country and El Cañavete.
The trip is the reward: my fight for life
Roots in which his mental strength flourished and the spirit of self-improvement that has accompanied him throughout his life. A solid foundation to face with guarantees this terrible test that life has placed on him.
“Today we cannot beat this disease, but we can find dignity in our defeat. I don’t eat, I don’t speak, I can’t walk, but emotionally I’m fine because I have the illusion of the Foundation and I live surrounded by the love of my people. ALS is a democratic disease because it treats all patients equally badly. Every morning I think about my death, but only 5 minutes. I understand the sick who decide to commit suicide. I bet on life ”. Phrases that impress with wisdom and courage adorned with crude realism.
To face with optimism our personal or professional adversities, in his case a tremendous and irreversible disease. This is the great example given by the testimony and personality of Francisco Luzón.
Deep and inspiring reflections that we can apply to other areas of our life and transform our daily complaints into valuable actions for ourselves and others.
Francisco Luzón lives with the philosophy that Antonio Machado promulgated:
Today is always still
David Reyero Trapiello – Senior HR Business Partner – Sanofi Iberia
e-mail: David.reyero@sanofi.com / Twitter: @davidreyero73 / Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/davidreyerotrapiello/
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