The largest sporting event held in Europe aimed at raising funds for research against breast cancer and helping people suffering from this pathology has already activated its countdown. Participants in the virtual solidarity race that will cross the European continent between September 26 and October 10 must register on the website www.carreraporlavida.org. Throughout those 15 days, a total of 32 countries, through different organizations and foundations that work to eradicate breast cancer, will interact through videos and photographs on social networks.
Brigitte Gypen, president of the Canarian Foundation Carrera por la Vida, and her team are multiplying their working hours these days so that the appointment is, one more year, a complete success. Before the pandemic, this activity brought together a great pink tide in Playa de las Américas made up of more than 5,000 people, but since COVID spread throughout the world, the format of the charity initiative has made the leap to the Internet and social networks.
Last year the Canarian foundation was chosen to represent Spain in the Race for the cure, the official name of the virtual race, promoted by the Think Pink Europe network. After the result obtained, it will repeat the experience in this edition under the slogan One more step. “One more step to raise more funds and help more people”, underlines the Belgian activist based in Tenerife.
“The face-to-face race has always been a celebration of life in which we give each other many hugs, there are many emotions, we cry, and we also laugh. But in times of COVID we have to bet on a different, safer format, in which positive feelings and solidarity also emerge ”, explained to this newspaper Brigitte Gypen, who encourages virtual walkers to register as soon as possible on the web and formalize your participation with the purchase of a number for five euros, although the organization allows you to contribute a donation greater than that amount. “They can do it both personally and any public institution, private company or sports club. We welcome anyone who wants to help with open arms because, unfortunately, we all know women and men who suffer or have suffered from breast cancer, ”says Gypen.
The Canary Foundation Carrera por la Vida managed to raise 17,000 euros last year, with the participation of more than 2,500 people. In 2021 the goal set by the organization points to the goal of 20,000 euros and more than 3,000 registrations. A part of that amount will go to help organizations and hospitals that fight against breast cancer (“today’s research is tomorrow’s medicine,” Gypen remarks) and another to help patients with the disease, as well as to public awareness campaigns.
Every year 500,000 new cases of breast cancer are detected in Europe and 125,000 people die from this disease. Today it is one of the main causes of death on a national scale, according to the Spanish Oncology Society, which qualifies as “fundamental” to make the population aware of the importance of carrying out preventive diagnoses.
Along these lines, with 16 years of work behind it, Carrera por la Vida develops projects in the Canary Islands to underline the importance of early detection of breast cancer, in addition to serving as an instrument to meet the needs and demands of the affected people by providing them therapeutic garments, organizing training activities and workshops, financing research projects and financially collaborating with other associations.
For the president of the Canarian Foundation Carrera por la Vida “it is more necessary than ever” to help with initiatives such as Think Pink Europe. “It is very important and it makes us feel good. We can help a little or a lot, but the fact of doing it is already extraordinary, and it gives us peace of mind in these times in which our emotions are on the surface, taking into account the difficult situation we are experiencing due to COVID ”.
After overcoming breast cancer, Brigitte Gypen promoted in 2005 “a little walk through Santa Cruz” to give light and draw attention to the importance of self-exploration. “More than 400 people signed up and I thought he was going to stay that way, but a lot of people started calling me and we started doing more things. This is how we have grown and the race has become a celebration of life ”.
Gypen fears the consequences of COVID and dedicates a special memory to those who have faced the disease process alone. “The people diagnosed last year had a very bad time because they could not be accompanied. In addition, the guild of oncologists assures that there are almost 30% fewer diagnoses than other years. And not because there has been a decrease in breast cancer cases, but because many people have not gone to check-up. We must insist and fight so that they attend to us. That is why more funds will be needed ”.
