Meet Lucas

“Lucas” is a 9-year-old boy with a deep sense of curiosity, full of energy and creativity. He lives with a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADHD), which sometimes makes focusing on his schoolwork a challenge. However, this same trait also makes him an incredibly dynamic child, with a special passion for learning and exploring the world in his own way. His greatest love is swimming, a space where he feels free, connected, and able to channel all his energy into something that makes him happy.

Lucas is the second of three children. His older brother, Daniel, 13, is a talented basketball player and alumnus of Colegio Sagrada Familia. Thanks to the partnership between the Rising Stars Foundation and the JJ Barea Foundation, Daniel was able to obtain the necessary equipment to practice his favorite sport and has begun paving the way for a promising future. The youngest, Valeria, 6, is the warrior of the family, facing a tough battle with cancer that has tested everyone’s strength.

Lucas’s mother, María, is an exemplary woman who has faced countless challenges since becoming a widow. Although her days are full of responsibilities, she has done her best to keep her children united and hopeful. María works part-time cleaning houses at night, which allows her to attend Valeria’s medical appointments and treatments during the day. While working, Daniel takes on the responsibility of caring for Lucas and Valeria, displaying impressive maturity for his age.

Despite the difficulties, María has prioritized her children’s education. Daniel exemplifies the positive impact of receiving a good education and opportunities, and María dreams of the same for Lucas. However, financial constraints have made it difficult to provide him with everything he needs.

Lucas finds swimming his escape and his passion. For him, the water is a place where he can focus and channel his energy positively. However, the cost of formal lessons has been an obstacle to his ability to fully participate and develop in this sport.

Through the Rising Stars Foundation, sponsors have decided to support Lucas and his family. Inspired by his enthusiasm and determination, they have secured his enrollment thanks to the Sagrada Familia School’s Sponsorship Program, giving him access to an educational environment that understands his needs and fosters his holistic development.

Furthermore, thanks to a partnership between the Rising Stars Foundation and the San Juan Natatorium, Lucas will be able to take free swimming lessons. This will not only allow him to improve his skills in a sport he loves, but will also provide him with a space to strengthen his confidence, discipline, and focus—key factors in managing his attention deficit disorder.

Lucas’s story is an example of the transformative impact of the right opportunities. The Rising Stars Foundation not only supports families with education but also fosters children’s physical, emotional, and social development, helping them build a future full of possibilities.