• The funds raised in the VI Seve Ballesteros Challenge will go to the research work of the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), the world’s leading institution in brain cancer.
• Javier and Carmen Ballesteros received the final participants of a circuit that has brought together 2,000 players from across the country and that have helped to achieve the multiple objectives of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation.

Real Golf de Pedreña hosted this weekend the Final of the sixth edition of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation Challenge, a solidarity circuit that takes place every two years and that has travelled the national territory with the objective of raising funds that, as in the five previous editions will go to the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), to assist in the scientific work on tumors of the Central Nervous System led by researcher Massimo Squatrito.

Almost 2,000 players have taken part in the VI Seve Ballesteros Foundation Challenge and the final was played among the 23 qualified couples. In this edition, the bad weather prevented a normal day and the game had to be suspended when only a few holes were played. In the end, by lottery, the ‘victory’ fell to the couple formed by Francisco Javier García Cutrín and Manuel López Silva, of the Real Aero Club of Vigo, and as a fantastic prize they are invited to enjoy the days of July 18 and 19 of the Open 2020 Championship courtesy of The R&A, and guests in transfers and accommodation by The Foundation.

However, all participants received the reward of being able to visit the trophy room of the private house of Severiano Ballesteros where they could marvel at the trophies and the incredible memory of the Cantabrian player, such as the three claret jugs as winner of the Open Championship or the two green jackets as the winner of the Augusta National Masters, among endless trophies, prizes and details that mark the room.
Seve Ballesteros, born in Pedreña (Cantabria) on April 9, 1957, died on May 7, 2011 due to a brain tumour. In 2009 he founded his Foundation in order to contribute to scientific research on brain tumours, as well as to help young people in the development of their sports careers and at the same time bring golf to children using it as an instrument to promote the values that entails.

In 2011, the Seve Ballesteros Foundation signed a collaboration agreement with the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), that since then carries out research tasks focused on advancing the knowledge of the different types of cancer that affect the central nervous system, and whose work has been endorsed and recognized by the reports and papers presented that highlight the quality and progress of the work performed.

The Seve Ballesteros Foundation has contributed, to date, more than 750,000 euros to this great research work. For María Blasco, director of CNIO: “We are very grateful to The Foundation because its contribution is fundamental in the work we are doing and helps to place the CNIO as one of the most important research centres in the world, and the first in Europe, especially in relation to brain tumours, in which there is still much to study. The group that Massimo Squatrito directs is leading in the world and has made great progress in recent years, so we have nothing but words of thanks to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation for its financing”

Similarly, much of the success is due to the important collaboration of Mercedes-Benz since the first edition. Roland Schell, president of Mercedes-Benz Spain, said: “Mercedes-Benz has many values in common with the Seve Ballesteros Foundation. And these are the ones that make us full of satisfaction to be able to collaborate with the Foundation in its support for research”.

The awards ceremony was chaired by Javier and Carmen Ballesteros, sons of Seve, that together with his brother, Miguel, foster his father’s legacy strengthened by the multitude of work carried out by the Foundation. “We appreciate the participation of the thousands of players of this edition, the great help of Mercedes-Benz and the rest of sponsors – without them all this would not be possible – as well as the great collaboration, once again, of the Real Golf de Pedreña – this is where my father started – and the rest of the clubs that have signed up for this biennial edition; and all in order to support the incredible work of the CNIO directed by María Blasco, a work that is not visible on a daily basis, but whose work will help many in a promising future. And we are also very happy with the rest of the projects carried out by the Foundation, especially with children, both in areas of golf learning in children’s oncological areas of different hospitals, and in golf facilities to teach new generations, the two main motives of the foundation that my father created,” said Javier Ballesteros.

Jesús Rodríguez, head of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation golf program in the different hospitals, said: “what started at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, in Santander, with a golf playground for children with oncology and psychiatry patients, and It has grown to five terraces and golf programs at the Gregorio Marañón Hospital in Madrid, which help children to better manage the treatment, learn values and improve their stay in the medical centres”.

Other awards programs in which the Foundation works, such as the inauguration a month ago of the Seve Ballesteros Sports Centre in Brea de Tajo, where the passion of the children of the CRA Los Olivos promoted the transformation of a soccer field into a golf facility that will serve as a boost for golf and its values as well as helping the youth of the Brea Minors Centre in its integration; or the reform and improvement of the Pediatric ICU of the Niño Jesús Hospital in Madrid, the largest project led by the Aladina Foundation.

• This project is now operational at the Gregorio Marañon Hospital in Madrid.
• The Children will have a golf teacher twice a week.

The Seve Ballesteros Foundation and the Aladina Foundation have created a facility dedicated to golf for children and teenagers suffering from cancer at the Gregorio Marañon Hospital in Madrid. This project helps children with cancer while in the hospital.

The facility has been created on five balconies situated on the third floor next to the Oncohaematology Paediatric Ward of the Maternity and Children’s Hospital in the medical centre. Every Monday and Tuesday morning a golf teacher from the Seve Ballesteros Foundation with the help of volunteers from the Aladina Foundation teach the youngsters. The children admitted into hospital can enjoy golf classes and some recreational activities in the open air. There are areas dedicated to golf on artificial grass divided into mini golf, short game, long game, games, playing area and a sitting area. There is a wide array of materials, specially designed for all ages to learn while at the same time creating a safe environment for the children and their families.

“My brother Javier, sister Carmen and I are delighted with this project which has been developed with the help of the Aladina Foundation”, said Miguel Ballesteros, son of the Spanish golfer, Seve Ballesteros. “It is invaluable to us that golf and its values are part of the children’s recovery process whilst fighting against cancer. The Foundation’s golf programs primary aim is to introduce children to the game of golf.  From which they could benefit emotionally and physically”, he added. 

This is the second facility of this kind supported by the Seve Ballesteros Foundation at a hospital facility. After one was built at Marqués de Valdecilla Hospital, Santander, this facility in Madrid is the first intended specifically for oncologic patients. For this the Seve Ballesteros Foundation signed a collaboration agreement with the Aladina Foundation,who had already undertaken several projects at the Gregorio Marañon Hospital, with the support of Mercedes-Benz Spain.

With this project, Seve’s spirit remains alive. More alive than ever with the work of his Foundation which honours his life and sports career. It also preserves his legacy and funds clinical investigations into cancer, as well as promotes golf and its values among children. “Thanks to the generosity of the Ballesteros Family, the young in-patients at the Gregorio Marañon Hospital can become passionate about playing the game of golf. The balcony of the hospital has been turned into a fantastic golf course”, confirms Paco Arango, President of the Aladina Foundation.

Jesús Rodriguez, head of the golf program fostered by the Seve Ballesteros Foundation explains how the process to choose the spaces and build the golf course has taken more than a year. Despite some initial difficulties the site fitted onto five balconies at the Gregorio Marañon Hospital are perfect for the golf activities. “On this second project the Seve Ballesteros Foundation has established a learning scheme to help young patients have fun whilst learning to play golf. We are very enthusiastic about this new project in Madrid. We look forward to sharing time with the young patients and their families during their visits or stays in hospital”, said Jesús Rodriguez.

 Aladina at the Gregorio Marañón

The Aladina Foundation has worked for some years now with the Gregorio Marañon Hospital. The Foundation chaired by Paco Arango has a psycho-oncologist providing free professional help to children and teenagers undergoing cancer treatment at the Gregorio Marañon as well as their parents and siblings. The Aladina Foundation has refurbished and decorated the new teenagers ward. The Foundation has provided new fittings, computers, game consoles, table football, dartboard as well as sofa beds for chaperones in all the rooms.

This non-profit organization also offers therapy with the help of dogs for oncological patients in collaboration with “Perros Azules”. Thanks to this project the young inpatients improve their communication abilities as well as their frame of mind and physical condition.

The Seve Ballesteros Foundation has received a donation of €100,000 from the 2018 EurAsia Cup, taking the total donated from the biennial contest between Europe and Asia to €300,000.

The Seve Ballesteros Foundation honours the life, achievements and professional career of the late European Tour legend from Spain, and aims to preserve his legacy and maintain his passion for golf, and especially for what the game can do to inspire young people. Seve set up the Foundation in 2009, with the commitment to contribute to the advancement of science for the benefit of those suffering from brain tumours.

The Foundation also aims to introduce children to golf, and to use the game as a vehicle for social development, instilling the values associated with the practice of the game of golf, and support young golfers in their careers.

Thomas Bjørn, who captained Europe to a 14-10 win over Arjun Atwal’s Asian side, before going on to lead Europe to victory in The Ryder Cup in September, presented the latest cheque to Seve’s son Miguel, adding to the donations from the 2014 and 2016 editions of the tournament.

Miguel Ballesteros said: “On behalf of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, I would like to thank the European Tour and Asian Tour by way of the EurAsia Cup for their generous support.

“The donation helps the Foundation continue with the purposes my father established in 2009: Research for the benefit of those suffering from brain tumours, supporting young golfers in their careers, and helping to introduce children to golf.

“Thanks to your support, Massimo Squatrito, head of the brain tumour group at the SBF laboratory at the National Cancer Research Centre in Spain and his team have accomplished scientific work of great quality for the past six years. They have recently uncovered a novel mechanism, a protein that contributes to preventing the development of glioblastoma, the most aggressive brain tumour.

“My father would be proud to see the continued support of the work of his Foundation.”

In recent years, the Seve Ballesteros Foundation has provided funding to the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (C.N.I.O. Carlos III) and the Aladina Foundation, which helps to improve the quality of life of young patients suffering from cancer. 

The Foundation has also helped to build a children’s playground facility at a hospital in Santander with an open area dedicated to golf. The aim is to support young patients suffering from cancer and make their difficult stay more pleasant. Plans are in place to expand this to a second hospital in Madrid.

In 2017, the Foundation held the V Desafio, a series of charity golf events played at 25 courses all over Spain. The winning pair were invited to participate in the 2018 EurAsia Cup Pro-Am.

Sir Nick Faldo today announced that the 2018 Major Champions Invitational has reached 19 major champion teams, completing the lineup for next month’s tournament. The inaugural event will be played March 12-14, 2018 at Bella Collina in Montverde, Florida.

2018 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk recently rounded out the already impressive lineup of major champions for the junior tournament created by PGA TOUR pro Sir Nick Faldo. Furyk, a former FedExCup Champion, has 17 PGA TOUR wins, including the 2003 U.S. Open Championship.

Joining Furyk and the previously announced major champions are World Golf Hall of Fame members Nancy Lopez, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley, 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and Tony Jacklin, also a World Golf Hall of Fame member and the most successful European Ryder Cup Captain in history.

“The response from major champions and sponsors for this first-year event has far exceeded any expectations we had going in,” said Faldo. “Their support is key to helping make a positive impact on the juniors competing, and providing them with a one-of-a-kind, world-class experience. I couldn’t be more excited about these 19 teams.”

In addition to tournament host Sir Nick Faldo, the complete list of 2018 participating/represented major champions is:

Seve Ballesteros, Keegan Bradley, John Daly, Jim Furyk, Tony Jacklin, Dustin Johnson; Nancy Lopez, Rory McIlroy, Jack Nicklaus, Jerry Pate, Justin Rose, Adam Scott; Annika Sorenstam,  Jordan Spieth,  Henrik Stenson, Payne Stewart, Tom Watson and Mike Weir                                 

About the Major Champions Invitational

The Major Champions Invitational is a tournament created by World Golf Hall of Fame member and six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo. An extension of the Faldo series, the event provides major champions an opportunity to mentor and inspire the next generation of players while giving back to the game. The inaugural event will be played March 12-14, 2018 at Bella Collina in Montverde, Florida. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Faldo Trust for Tomorrow’s Children Inc., a U.S. 501c3 organization. The Major Champions Invitational is a made-for-TV event which will air on CBS on Saturday, August 11, 2018, preceding coverage of the 2018 PGA Championship. For more information, visit http://www.majorchampionsinvitational.com/

Researchers have identified a new protein – called RanBP6 – that has a tumour suppressor activity through the modulation of EFGR expression

Reconstitution of RanBP6 in a mouse xenograft model leads to reduction in tumor growth

A group of researchers at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) have identified a protein called RanBP6 as a new regulator of EGFR. In a paper published in Nature Communications they show how silencing of RanBP6 promoted glioma growth, by upregulating EGFR expression. Moreover, reconstitution of RanBP6 in a mouse xenograft model leads to reduction in tumor growth. Authors state that these findings might have “important clinical implications”.

Histology of a glioblastoma induced by the silencing of RanBP6 / CNIO

Malignant brain tumors represent about 3% of the known cancers and every year about 100,000 new cases are diagnosed worldwide. Glioblastoma is the most common and lethal primary central nervous system tumour in the adults. A decade of studies has underlined the complexity of the glioma genome, however, the functional significance of the vast majority of the genetic alterations remains elusive.

The Seve Ballesteros Foundation-CNIO Brain Tumor Group, headed by Massimo Squatrito, in collaboration with the laboratory of Ingo Mellinghoff at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York (USA), has now uncovered a novel mechanism that contributes to prevent glioblastoma development.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a critical role in normal development and in human cancer. EGFR is one of the first receptor tyrosine kinases linked to human cancer and represents an important drug target in oncology. Aberrant activation of EGFR in cancer stimulates tumour growth and is primarily attributed to increased gene copy numbers or gain-of-function mutations. However, it can also result from defects in EGFR feedback regulation.

Barbara Oldrini and Wan-Ying Hsieh, co-lead authors in the study, have discovered a novel layer of complexity in the regulation of EGFR. Oldrini and colleagues have identified a previously uncharacterized protein – RanBP6 –, as a modulator of EGFR expression. The authors show that RanBP6 is an importin family member that regulates the nuclear import of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). RanBP6 silencing impairs STAT3 nuclear translocation, leading to transcriptional depression of EGFR and increased EGFR pathway output.

“Our studies showed for the first time that STAT3 is a direct inhibitor of EGFR expression. I believe this has important clinical implications: STAT3 inhibitors are currently being investigated for the treatment of glioblastoma and other tumor types. Inhibiting STAT3 signaling could lead to an undesired activation of EGFR signaling”, says Massimo Squatrito.

Focal deletions of the RanBP6 locus were found in a subset of glioblastoma patients and silencing of RanBP6 promoted glioma growth in glioma mouse model, by upregulating EGFR expression. Moreover, reconstitution of RanBP6 in human glioma cell lines that lack its expression lead to reduction in tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model.

“Our results provide an example of EGFR deregulation in cancer through silencing of components of the nuclear import pathway. We have identified a new link between the Ran-GTPase nuclear transport pathway and key cancer signaling pathways which warrant further study as inhibitors targeting nuclear transporters enter clinical evaluation as cancer therapeutics “, says Barbara Oldrini.

This research was supported by the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, the National Brain Tumor Society, the National Institutes of Health, the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Foundation, the Cycle of Survival, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Sontag Foundation.

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