Flying to Formentera – Carlos Pons on Cystic Fibrosis, Swimming Tours and Hope

Some interviews stay with you. Sitting with Carlos Pons in the Majorca Mallorca studio felt like catching up with an old friend. We talked about rescue helicopters, science that sounds like science fiction, and the joy of swimming around an island for a cause.

Carlos runs the Respiralia Foundation, which supports people with cystic fibrosis in the Balearics. The disease is genetic, lifelong and demanding. But thanks to new drugs like Kaftrio, many patients are breathing more easily than ever before. “It is incredible. From coughing all night to clear lungs in two days. It changes lives,” Carlos told us.

Respiralia began with families looking for answers. Carlos joined when his nephew was diagnosed and has been part of it ever since. The centre in San Agustín opened in 2009 and is now a hub of therapy and training. This September they open a new gym, proving that science never stands still.

The conversation turned often to community. The Formentera Swimming Tour is more than a fundraiser. It is part challenge, part festival, part reunion. “We limit it to 240 swimmers, and it sells out fast. They sleep on mats, eat together, form teams and dance on the beach. It is our main income for treatments, but also the heart of our Foundation,” says Carlos.

Carlos’s own story adds another layer. He was a military pilot, flying search and rescue missions, until illness grounded him. “I realised I could keep helping people, but on the ground,” he said. That instinct has grown into projects as diverse as a children’s documentary, family-friendly charity runs, and even support for Ukrainian refugees on the island.

Science is still at the core. The Foundation is pioneering phage therapy, using viruses to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They are testing ways to personalise treatment and save lives that antibiotics cannot. “We have saved legs, avoided transplants. The possibilities are huge,” Carlos said.

As always, we asked about the island itself. Carlos loves Mallorca, with its mountains, its challenges and its debates about tourism and housing. “There are no easy solutions. But we all live here together and we need to protect it,” he said.

For him, home is Consell, animals in the paddock, and a chance to switch off. “It keeps me balanced,” he smiled.

Listen to the full conversation to hear about mucus, miracle drugs, a helicopter pilot who swapped the sky for science, and why the last weekend of June is booked solid every year.

🎧 Listen to the podcast: [link to podcast]
🌐 Find out more: www.respiralia.org

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