The 1st Xana Foundation Charity Tournament brings together leading figures from the world of sports at Golf Santander for an event with a significant social impact

Caption: Group photo at the 18th hole of Golf Santander next to the foundation’s logo.

• The event combined a Pro-Am golf tournament with a padel tournament, bringing together prominent figures
• The gala dinner at the Wellington Hotel & Spa served as a fitting conclusion to the event, with proceeds going to the Casa de las Xanas

Official website of the Xana Foundation
Photos from the event

The 1st Xana Foundation Charity Tournament was held this Monday at Golf Santander, in an event that once again demonstrated the power of sports as a tool for social mobilization, bringing together prominent figures from the worlds of sports, culture, and business around a common cause.

The event featured a Pro-Am golf competition and a parallel padel tournament, broadening participation and reinforcing the inclusive nature of an initiative designed to foster camaraderie and a commitment to solidarity, just as envisioned since its launch.

In the golf tournament, teams consisted of three amateur players, one celebrity, and one professional. Notable figures in attendance included Marcos Llorente, Luis Figo, Raúl González, Rudy Fernández, and Carlos Sainz, along with other figures from the sports, social, and cultural spheres who joined the initiative.

Atlético de Madrid player Marcos Llorente was tasked with taking the opening shot on the 18th hole, marking one of the day’s most memorable moments.

On the sporting side, the tournament featured top professionals from the world of golf, including Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, Ignacio Garrido, Teresa Díez Moliner, Clara Moyano, and Santi Luna, who accompanied the various teams throughout the course.
At the same time, the padel tournament also brought together various figures from the worlds of sports and politics, such as Alberto Herreros and Albert Rivera, rounding out a day that united different sports disciplines under a single charitable goal.

The day concluded with a gala dinner held at the Wellington & Spa Hotel Madrid, where the awards ceremony took place along with a charity raffle featuring numerous prizes. Among the prizes were experiences and gear donated by major sports figures such as Pau Gasol, Dembelé, and Luka Doncic, as well as stays at top-tier destinations like Abama Golf, dinners at La Torre del Mirador, and green fees on the Costa del Sol, all of which helped boost the funds raised for the Foundation.

“It’s always important for everyone to do their part to help all these people and support initiatives like this,” said Marcos Llorente, who highlighted the importance of raising awareness about these types of projects.

For his part, Raúl González highlighted the human aspect of the initiative: “This foundation was created to help many families. We are here today to contribute, to raise funds, and to support those who are going through a difficult time.”

The funds raised will go toward supporting Casa de las Xanas, one of the Xana Foundation’s flagship projects, designed as a comprehensive support center for children and young people with serious illnesses, as well as for their families.

“The foundation was created to provide comprehensive support to families with children suffering from serious illnesses, adapting to the needs of each case—whether emotional, logistical, or financial,” explained Bela Cullell, director of the Xana Foundation. “Our main goal is the Casa de las Xanas, a support center where we can stand by these families throughout the entire process.”

Cullell also highlighted the tournament’s role in the project’s development: “This event was created to raise awareness of the Casa de las Xanas and take the first steps toward funding it. The response has been overwhelming, so we can only thank everyone who has joined us.”

The Xana Foundation, established in memory of Xana, the daughter of Luis Enrique and Elena Cullell, focuses its work on providing emotional, social, and personal support throughout the course of the illness, complementing medical care and creating environments that help improve quality of life in particularly challenging situations.

You can follow the Xana Foundation’s latest news on its Twitter account @FundacionXana, its Instagram account @fundacionxana, and its Facebook page @FundaciónXana. The charity tournament was sponsored by Costa del Sol as the main sponsor, along with Bizkaia PGAe Open, El Catering de Rodilla, Endesa, Finisher de Kern Pharma, Golf Santander, Hotel Wellington & Spa Madrid, La Torre del Mirador, PING, Montajes del Saz, Itai Pharma y Kyocera as sponsors and partners of the event.