The gala organised by the Canary Islands Carrera por la Vida Foundation, which filled the Infanta Leonor auditorium in Los Cristianos, concluded with a standing ovation from the audience for Yaiza Díaz, the young journalist who hosted the event. Yaiza is currently battling breast cancer and was overwhelmed with emotion as she read aloud a letter personally delivered by Brigitte Gypen, the president of the Foundation, naming her the godmother of the upcoming Race for Life, set to take place in Playa de Las Americas on December 1.
“I have surgery scheduled for next week, and I carry with me all this positive energy; I hope to be well by then,” the presenter replied, her voice trembling amidst the applause as she wiped her tears, drawing strength from the audience before her imminent surgery. This marked the poignant conclusion of a gala masterfully conducted by the journalist, who reminded everyone that one in eight women is afflicted by this disease and called for increased investment in research and improvements in treatment. “We are confronting a social emergency, a health crisis,” she emphasised.
The event showcased that solidarity is an immense natural force that brings together and fosters feelings of safety and optimism. This was evident in the messages delivered by all the individuals who took to the stage, in the video presentations, in the remarkable response of the audience—who maintained their applause throughout the nearly two-hour show—and in the musical performances by Candelaria González and Francis Yanes, who shared their uplifting message “It’s my turn to be happy” with the crowd, along with Latonius, who got the enthusiastic group of supporters moving to the melody of “Living the dreams.”
During the gala, the Foundation’s awards were presented to various entities, companies, groups, and individuals who contribute to advancing Race for Life projects and enhancing the quality of life for those living with breast cancer. In this second edition, recipients included the Tenerife Masters club, the Canarias Aloe Vera farm, the INVI association, Canarias Weekly, the Mujeres de Abona association, and the FERO foundation.
The representative from the Mujeres de Abona association dedicated the award to their president, who was hospitalised, similar to the INVI association (the first organisation in Spain to create a support network for men with breast cancer), whose spokesperson shared heartfelt words for its founder, who provided a video message but was unable to receive the award due to a decline in health.
One of the most celebrated moments of the evening was the unveiling of the 2025 Race for Life calendar, marking its twentieth anniversary, featuring individuals affected by breast cancer alongside volunteers from the Foundation. “There are twelve splendid images and twelve stories stitched together with pink thread,” summarised Ángel Pérez, the individual responsible for the publication, which will be sold for six euros, dedicated to the fashion world. After highlighting that the proceeds would go towards projects and initiatives supporting those with breast cancer, Pérez directed a message to the attending authorities, including Fátima Lemes, mayor of Arona; Mariano Hernández Zapata, regional advisor for Ecological Transition; Agueda Fumero, insular counselor of Social Action; and Francisco Javier García, rector of the University of La Laguna: “More research is essential, and it is your duty to advocate for it because you have been elected by the public.”
The closing remarks were delivered by the president of the Foundation, Brigitte Gypen, who expressed gratitude for the support received from institutions, entities, groups, companies, individuals, boards of trustees, and volunteers (whom she referred to as “the driving force and greatest asset of the Foundation”). She also highlighted some “very special” initiatives in progress, including the promotion of breast cancer research at the University of La Laguna and advancing the Mente Rosa initiative, which offers psychological support to those affected by this illness, for which she called for additional funding.
The event concluded with a family photo of the winners. As the auditorium began to empty, the emotional tears of Yaiza and the hopeful words of Rubén Ventura, director of FERO—a foundation committed to researching the disease for 22 years—lingered in the air: “We will reach the conclusion of our investigations, and we will defeat cancer.”
