Toni Elias Poses for 2011 Talita Charity Calendar

Moto2 Champion Toni Elias, the current LCR Honda MotoGP Team rider rider, was one of the twelve Spanish personalities that recently posed for the 2011 Talita Charity Calendar that helps children and young people with Down Syndrome. This is the ninth consecutive year that the Talia Foundation uses this method to raise awareness in society to support all children with learning difficulties.

The Spanish rider, who was photographed sitting next to Marc, one of the children that had the opportunity to pose with the celebrities, attended the launch of the calendar just hours after he underwent a surgery.

Elias has had screws removed from his left hand and right ankle, which he had inserted back in March following a crash during Testing at Jerez. Apparently the surgery, performed by Dr Joaquim Casanas, went pretty well, as Elias left the Teknon Clinic confident in his rehabilitation process.

Talita Foundation, whose name means "arise" in Aramaic, has worked for over eleven years to help families with children who need special education and to advise schools when dealing with children. They also develop awareness campaigns among students and teachers. The aim is to raise funds to continue working on the integration of these children.

As we said, joining Elias were other stars such as Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, Barca coach Pep Guardiola, Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque, driver Pedro de la Rosa and mountaineer Edurne Pasaban.

Besides those already mentioned, the 2011 calendar also features singer David Bisbal, designer Rosa Clara, flamenco artist Jose Merce, singer Dani Martin, and TV presenter Sara Carbonero (the girlfriend of Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas and who was voted "The Sexiest Reporter in the World" in 2009 by FHM USA).