"If you can dream it, you can do it.
Always remember that this whole thing was started by a mouse."
( W. Disney )
On May 10th, 2005- my nephew, Markus De Felipe, was born with cerebral palsy (a serious neurological condition that affects body movement and muscle coordination, as well as communication skills) and as a result, he may never have the ability and/or opportunity to live out his life the way he might dream it. Life can change in a split second- for good or bad- and unfortunately, most of us make the mistake of taking the most simple pleasures for granted, when those simple things are truly the most extraordinary: a sunset, the moon, a flower, breathing deep, watching a movie, walking, talking, smiling, holding hands, playing with your friends, having lunch with your family, opening your eyes/waking up in the morning, running, kissing, swimming in the ocean…so make sure you value and enjoy the little things in life, because one day you may look back and realize they were the big things…
On April 12th, 2016, the soccer world and specifically Real Madrid C.F lost one of their own, former player/legend PEDRO DE FELIPE, but I lost my father, at the age of 71, after a long and courageous battle against Cancer.
Thanks to players like him, Real Madrid C.F. (1902) has become one of the most respected, prestigious, successful sports franchises in the world. Chosen by FIFA as the Best Club of the 20th Century holding the record of 13 European Champions titles and the only team to ever won it 3 times in a row.
He won 5 Ligas (Spanish Football Championships) and the famous "La Sexta" European Champions League in 1966 with only 21 years old. That Champions League in 1966 was the first time ever, all 11 players were from the same country.
Forever Dream Foundation is based on what my father taught me; believing in you, dignity, respect, helping others, always being positive, always moving forward and dreaming no matter what. This foundation is a daily honor to my fathers values, name and legacy. A true fighter and champion on the soccer field and in life. My father always taught me to stay humble, to dream, to fight, stay positive and never give up during hard times and adversity because the sun will always shine after the storm. He smiled and stayed positive until the end in his fight against Cancer.
My father’s memory, spirit and values, essentially being human, humble and generous to others not as privileged as you will be forever present in my life and in the Foundation I represent and created from scratch.
Life is about giving, not receiving, because the best and most rewarding way to be happy is to make others happy; to make an act of love, goodness, or generosity towards someone who may not be as fortunate as ourselves.
My dad's soccer career/accomplishments and Paulo Coelho's book ("The Alchemist") showed me the path to dream. My dad and Markus's parents (Pedro & Madelaine) provided me the strength. My father’s values, generosity, positive attitude/energy and Markus's smile gave me the inspiration and motivation to build this foundation so that I can help others make their own dreams come true.
There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure... and the only place where your dreams can become impossible is in your own mind. La vida is beautiful, dreams do come true, and they belong to everybody...so dream on, open your heart, and Forever Dream! Espiritu Pedro De Felipe!🙏🏼5️⃣⚽😇
Alejandro De Felipe (Forever Dream Foundation, President)
