Galitos Sports Hall, in Aveiro, was the stage of the 1 st edition of the Pre-season Tournament Hospital da Luz Aveiro , an initiative gathering four historical clubs of the region: Illiabum, Galitos, Beira-Mar and Sangalhos. This was a weekend full of emotion and competitive spirit, where there was also space for a solidary action sponsored by Hospital da Luz, which mobilized the fans watching in the stands. The final put face to face Illiabum and Galitos in a match decided in the last minutes. Illiabum defeated Galitos by 69-62, after a hard-fought first half (16-14), the win only being assured in the closing moments. In the match establishing the 3 rd and 4 th places, Sangalhos got the better, defeating Beira-Mar by 81-75. It was an even game marked by the engagement of both teams, reflecting the competitive spirit of the whole tournament. During the half-time period on the Sunday matches, fans were challenged to participate in the initiative “You also score”: they were asked to step on the field and score “baskets”. For every basket scored, Hospital da Luz would donate 15 euros to Calioásis, an association that supports families affected by paediatric cancer. Overall, the donation amounted to 595 euros, which was handed over by Filipa Loreto da Fonte, from the management team at Hospital da Luz Aveiro. Hospital da Luz Aveiro is the official medical provider of three of the clubs participating in this competition (Illiabum, Galitos and Sangalhos), ensuring clinical and personalized follow-up to athletes. The support to institutions and sporting events is for Hospital da Luz an essential instrument to fulfil one of its missions: promoting healthy life styles and preventing disease, by encouraging safe sports practice. The initiative carried out during this tournament shows how sport can also be a powerful tool of inclusion and solidarity.
