Christmas Charity Concert Raises €50,000 with Luísa and Salvador Sobral as Headliners

In this second edition, more than €50,000 was raised through ticket sales, zero-row donations and contributions from partner companies. These funds will go towards research into infections in immunocompromised people – those with weakened immune systems due to genetics, illness, transplants, among other causes, and therefore have fewer defences.

In fact, it is worth noting that in 2017, the Portuguese singer received a heart transplant, making him particularly sensitive to research in this field. “For me, this concert was very special because all proceeds will go to research into infections in people like me – immunocompromised,” said Salvador Sobral.

The concert brought together siblings Salvador and Luísa Sobral in a performance that combined their own repertoire with versions of music classics. The audience enjoyed some of their most iconic songs, such as Amar Pelos Dois, winner of Eurovision 2017, and Anda Estragar-me os Planos, which marked some of the most anticipated moments of the night.

Research against cytomegalovirus: fewer hospitalisations, better quality of life

With the funds raised, the Foundation’s research team will launch a pioneering strategy to monitor immune response and detect early loss of specific immunity against cytomegalovirus (CMV) – a virus from the same family as herpes or chickenpox – in immunocompromised patients.

This is crucial, as patients with cancer, haematological diseases or transplants live with the constant risk of severe infections caused by this virus. According to Dr Pedro Puerta, co-head of the Foundation’s Immunocompromised Infections line, “it can cause very serious complications, prolonged hospitalisations and, in some cases, fatal outcomes.” In solid organ transplant recipients, such as Salvador Sobral, CMV infection can affect up to 70% of patients.

Thanks to this funding, advanced techniques such as ELISPOT and PCR will be implemented, allowing action before the virus causes disease. This means fewer hospitalisations, less aggressive treatments and better quality of life for patients.

These initiatives not only raise funds but also raise awareness about the importance of research and support for immunocompromised people.

The concert was supported by companies such as Marlex, Axxon and bonÀrea, which collaborated for the second time in the Foundation’s Christmas concert.

You can still contribute through our donation row: