8th “Vi per Vida” charity wine-tasting for cancer research

On Sunday 7 May at 17.00h, the “Vi per Vida” (“Wine for Life” in English) charity organisation run by sommelier Xavier Ayala is holding its 8th “Vi per Vida” wine-tasting event for 300 people, at La Salle’s Hall in Mollerussa (Lleida). This fundraising initiative draws public attention to the importance of research, supports research into cancer and metastasis conducted at IRB Barcelona, and promotes wine culture.

Established by Xavier Ayala in 2014, a sommelier from Mollerussa, with the support of the Ayala-Cots family, the charity organisation “Vi per Vida” aims to raise awareness about metastasis—the spread of a primary tumour to distant organs, a process that causes 90% of deaths from cancer—and to contribute to the work carried out in this field in competitive research labs in IRB Barcelona.

The Mollerussa’s City Council has welcomed this next wine tasting, the fourth to be organised in the city, by inviting all citizens to participate, highlighting that the wine-tasting sessions are for “a worthy cause”, and would not be possible without the support of organisations and people who have generously backed the initiative since its beginning.

An exemplary initiative

So far, “Vi per Vida” has donated near to 10,000€ to IRB Barcelona, and has led to collaborations with many local and national organisations, Catalan wineries, restaurants and popular figures, increasing its social impact. 

“’Vi per Vida" is a generous and exemplary initiative. It is crucial that society raise their awareness of the value of scientific research, and identify ways to contribute to it,” stresses Joan J. Guinovart, director of IRB Barcelona.

The event will begin at 5 pm and will last approximately an hour and a half. For 10 euros, participants will have the opportunity to taste a selection of wines belonging to various Catalan DOs, including “Costers del Segre”, “Montsant” and “Catalunya”. The entrance fee also includes a commemorative tray to serve wines.

Tickets for the event can be purchased in several local business in Mollerussa and through the website Ticketea.

Link to “Vi per Vida”

Buy your ticket here

About IRB Barcelona

Created in 2005 by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia) and University of Barcelona, IRB Barcelona is a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence, a seal that was awarded in 2011. The institute is devoted to conducting research of excellence in biomedicine and to transferring results to clinical practice, thus improving people’s quality of life, while simultaneously promoting the training of outstanding researchers, technology transfer, and public communication of science. Its 24 laboratories and seven core facilities address basic questions in biology and are orientated to diseases such as cancer, metastasis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and rare conditions. IRB Barcelona is an international centre that hosts more than 400 employees and 36 nationalities. It is located in the Barcelona Science Park. IRB Barcelona forms part of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) and the “Xarxa de Centres de Recerca de Catalunya” (CERCA).