Author
Marion Wilkens, as appeared in Alpha1 Journal 1-2024.
The annual general meeting and information day in Austria took place at the Sporthotel Wagrain from May 24th to 25th, 2024. It is a special year for our colleagues and friends in Austria, as it marks the 20th anniversary of Alpha1 Austria.
As usual, the hospitality of our sister organization was wonderful, and I don't want to write a typical visit report today, but rather talk about friendship. From the very beginning, the exchange with our colleagues from Austria has been important to us. After so many years together, it's far more than just sharing the latest developments in the Alpha-1 world or joining forces in policy. True friendship has grown from it. Everyone has their own style and their own ideas, and that's the good thing—everyone can learn from each other. Through Renate Shashoua from the Swiss sister organization, our community has become even stronger and the friendship even closer. For me, the term DA-CH (Germany (D), Austria (A), and Switzerland (CH) represents an umbrella organization for patients in German-speaking regions and an open exchange, which is so valuable, especially when dealing with a rare disease.
We spent so many nights chatting and debating, and Alpha-1 was always the ultimate focus, sometimes our men too, but always secondarily. But they also bonded. Many know this from their own lives: much good and new can arise from a friendship, and so we wish our Austrian colleagues the next 20 years full of success, community, and always a good touch for the benefit of the patients.
Best wishes to Austria on the 20th anniversary.
