In 1987 José Carreras recovered from Leukaemia thanks to the extraordinary work of the team of professionals who took care of him in Barcelona and Seattle. In addition to the medical success and the support of his family and his friends from the musical world, José Carreras has always emphasised how fundamental to his recovery were the endless testimonies of affection and solidarity that he received from people all over the world. The mail department of the hospital nearly collapsed under the thousands of letters of support from those who had long followed his career and indeed from all sorts of people.

Soon after his recovery, José Carreras felt that he had to find a way to give back to medical science all that he had been given. There was a debt to be paid. It was in trying to accomplish this objective that the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation was created on July 14, 1988. The Foundation was born with the aim of fighting against leukaemia in a variety of ways.

In 1998 the Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary, and in these past ten years, many important initiatives have been achieved. Financing and supporting research is one of the areas in which the Foundation has concentrated its efforts. On an annual basis, a wide range of fellowships are granted, providing funds and support for the most excellent and promising researchers both in Spain and worldwide. Since the first fellowships were awarded, the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation has devoted over 2 million US Dollars to this program.

Financial help to scientists is complemented by donations to leading centres and hospitals to assist them in providing more and better resources for researchers. Money is also donated to medical centres to enable the creation of the highest level facilities for the treatment of patients.

In 1990, the Foundation decided to undertake a very necessary project for the Spanish health system - the creation of an unrelated bone marrow donor registry. Many leukaemia patients, especially children, can see their chances of survival dramatically increased if a bone marrow transplant from a suitable donor is made at the right point in the treatment process. In many instances, a close relative happens to have adequate compatibility with the patient's immune system. Unfortunately, this alternative is not always possible. In such cases, an unrelated donor must be found. Since the probability of finding the needed donor is 1 in 40,000, the availability of a very large voluntary donor base is crucial in order to make bone marrow transplants possible.

Encouraging such donations and organising REDMO, the Spanish bone marrow registry, was the second main objective that the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation set as its main priority. REDMO is fully staffed and financed by the Foundation. Through agreements with health authorities and hospitals, REDMO promotes bone marrow donation by means of permanent campaigns and special drives.

Once a candidate offers to become a donor, REDMO takes care of tissue-typing and registers the donor information which will make him or her available to patients all over the world. Indeed, the search for bone marrow donors for specific patients is a proof of international solidarity. Registries from more than 36 countries interact daily through an information network to exchange information about patients waiting for a transplant and about possible donors. Once the process is complete, bone marrow is drawn from the donor and transported to the patient's hospital where the transplant is carried out.

Plans for the future include the enlargement of the research support program by adding new grants, as well as the full development of REDMO. Currently the Foundation is financing the creation of one of the most important Cord Blood banks of Europe, established in Barcelona. Its aim is to have 10,000 cord blood units stored and available for transplantation.

The José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation also provides social services for patients and their families. Thanks to one of the Foundation's programs, accommodation is provided for low income patients and their families who have had to move temporarily from their city of residence in order to receive treatment. The Foundation also offers an information service about the illness to leukaemia patients and their relatives worldwide. Well-known specialists participate in this service.

In order to inform as many people as possible about leukemia and its treatment and to make them aware of the Foundation's work and the need for bone marrow donors, the Foundation maintains an internet site at the World Wide Web. Users are able to connect directly with Foundation staff and to address their questions or enquiries directly to them. The Foundation also has a Press Department that regularly informs the mass media about the activities of the Foundation and its President. As a result of such activity, in 1997 over 200 articles were published in Spanish magazines and newspapers. There has also been participation in numerous radio and TV programmes.

One of the most important sources of income for the fight against leukaemia is the professional activity and personal participation of José Carreras. He has made an extraordinary contribution to the achievement of the Foundation's goals. His personal dedication motivates both private individuals and companies to contribute.

Since the first concert on July 21 1988 at the Arc del Triomf in Barcelona, which signalled the creation of the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation, José Carreras has continued to offer numerous charity concerts and recitals worldwide. Since the creation of the Foundation, a very large number of companies and individuals have shown their solidarity with José Carreras' initiative. From the very beginning some of these companies made extremely generous donations. The Foundation also receives support from the many José Carreras support associations worldwide. Apart from attending his performances, they organise various activities in aid of the Foundation.