Dani Albero and Jordi Company, a story of diabetes and sport

Valencian UPV students help a pilot with diabetes to complete the hardest rally in the world
It was a real arrow.Jordi Company went to the Baja Aragón rally, the so -called Spanish Dakar, and read in a van the inscription "a diabetic in the Dakar."At that time, Jordi studied second course of the Degree in Audiovisual Communication, at the Polytechnic University of València, on the Gandia campus.

His passion for motorcycles and bug for helping others forged friendship with Daniel Albero, Carcaixent motorcycle pilot and owner of the van."Valiente is an adjective that falls short to define Albero," explains Jordi Company."It is an example of struggle, effort and overcoming, which has made history for being the first pilot with type 1 diabetes that participates in the hardest rally in the world: the Dakar."

In this edition, Daniel Albero competes with the number 105 and his “sugar” motorcycle.Your motto Gas and insulin!He is making history.Last year, the Carcaixent pilot already took the exit in the edition held in Peru, but he had to leave after three stages because of a breakdown on the motorcycle, the sores of his feet and the sequelae of a wrist break that occurredweeks before the trip.

The 2020 edition is also resulting extremely difficult.Albero's motorcycle suffered a severe breakdown on Wednesday 8, at the end of the fourth stage.And, although at times the presence of the Valencian seemed to danger, the organization of the rally informed the pilot that he can continue in the race after the day of rest - Mañana, Saturday 11 -, in the Experience category.Thus, Albero can return to the adventure on the 12th. This will allow the Valencian to continue fighting for his goal: to enter the goal in Qiddiya next Friday, January 17.

Classmates

In 2017 Jordi Company, Jairo González, Alberto García and Carlos Roso studied in the same class and embarked on the project.They managed to give "a point of professionalism" to the feat, explains Jordi Company, because Dani "could not reach everything."These four students sought sponsors, created the brand, designed the web and achieved national impact and thousands of followers on social networks.All this without neglecting their university studies, although Company recognizes the support of teachers, especially when the rallys arrived."They have been very patience with us," he acknowledges.

With the collaboration of the UPV Innovation Chair

In addition, the UPV Innovation Chair was involved in the project, which resulted not only in financial support, but also in the possibility of using the audiovisual media of the University for the recording and editing of the videos.“We have the support of large pharmaceuticals and Valencian companies, but the university provides rigor and credibility to the project.The support of the UPV Mola, ”confesses Company.

The initiative of this group of students is voluntary and Jordi acknowledges that the project has meant a real professional filming for them.Three of them are already working.Jairo González currently accompanies Daniel Albero in the Dakar because he is preparing a documentary about “how type 1 diabetes is managed in the hardest race in the world,” explains Company.

This year, in addition, there has been an important innovation."With the help of large pharmaceuticals, Dani runs the Dakar with an insulin bomb, allowing him to be more controlled and quiet."His sports experience and how his body reacts to this extreme adventure are factors that also interest from the medical point of view.

The best thing, for Jordi Company is that “we are a small family, we are very involved in the project.

This is not Dani's dream, it is the dream of this community of Dakarians that we have created. ”

ExampleMotivator

The example of struggle and overcoming the Carcaixent pilot leaves stories, as endearing, as that of a mother who tells the change his son experienced.The boy did not want to leave home when he was diagnosed with diabetes.“But he loves motorcycles, he met Dani's case and now, he is his reference.He just wants to get on a motorcycle and compete in the Dakar, ”explains Jordi Company.

They are life stories that reinforce and make believe even more in the importance of the dissemination of the “a diabetic in the Dakar” campaign.Because Daniel Albero is a "good person, a brave and paternal being," says Company.At 8 years old, he exceeded a meningitis that kept him 20 days in a coma;Shortly after, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and, being an adult, lost his third son with only three months of age.He is an example of resilience and overcoming.And he wants to fulfill his dream.Demonstrating that Dakar's adventure is also possible with insulin.