A story of perseverance and hope
At 77 years old, Ana León has become a symbol of struggle in Arenys de Mar. Her life has been marked by cancer, a disease that has affected not only her but also her family. After losing her husband to a liver tumour and undergoing two operations for breast cancer, Ana has had to visit the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, known as Can Ruti, numerous times. However, the lack of adequate public transport between her town and the hospital led her to take action.
The situation of public transport is critical for patients requiring specialised medical care. Ana describes the connectivity as “lamentable”, which drove her to lead a campaign to request a medical bus connecting the coastal towns with Can Ruti. With determination and community support, she managed to collect over 18,000 signatures, demonstrating that her cause resonated with many others affected.
Initially, many considered Ana's ideas unrealistic; however, her tenacity was unyielding. “They force us to go accompanied or use the train,” Ana explains about the difficulties patients face in reaching the hospital. A journey that could be made by car in less than half an hour turns into an odyssey of up to two hours using the train, something unacceptable for those battling serious illnesses.
Ana found support from local representative Teresa Verdura and the Associació de Veïns d’Arenys de Mar, who helped amplify her voice. The campaign was so successful that over 2,500 signatures were collected just on Change.org. Despite the popular and political support received —including motions approved by various town councils— there are still bureaucratic obstacles preventing progress towards an effective solution.
Despite the verbal commitment from the secretary of Mobility of the Generalitat, Manel Nada, to study the proposal for the medical bus, Ana continues to face political resistance. The Mataró City Council has demanded additional conditions that further complicate the situation: they want the bus to depart from their local hospital before heading to Can Ruti.
Despite occasional discouragement in the face of political hurdles, Ana is not willing to give up. “I do not rule out hanging banners and going out to protest,” she asserts with determination. Her story is a powerful reminder of how one person can mobilise entire communities towards meaningful change.
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