19,000 run in Barcelona to raise awareness of breast cancer
8 km-race held on Sunday in Catalan capital after last year's edition was virtual due to Covid-19
The Women’s Race ('La Cursa de la Dona') celebrated its annual run with 19,000 participants. The event raises awareness of breast cancer, with donations going towards research as well as the care of patients and their families.
1️⃣9️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ veces gracias, Barcelona.
— Carrera de la Mujer (@CarreraMujer) November 21, 2021
Moltes gràcies!!!
Hoy han ganado las chicas.
Avui han guanyat les dones.#MareaRosa pic.twitter.com/sY7UewtU6J
The race, which is around 8 km long, started at Montjuïc's Magic Fountain, with the finish line at a nearby street, Avinguda de Rius i Taulet. Professional athlete Jèssica Bonet won the race around 30 minutes after the event started.
¡Nuestra querida @jesbonet ha sido la primera de las 1️⃣9️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ mujeres en meta hoy en la Carrera de la Mujer de Barcelona! #MareaRosa pic.twitter.com/rtJUBNHS9i
— Carrera de la Mujer (@CarreraMujer) November 21, 2021
Breast Cancer in Catalonia
The first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic put cancer detection programs on hold, but the Catalan Public Health office expects a full return to normality in early 2022 after checkups started again in September 2020. Up to 126,000 women did not have their medical appointments: 30% of the 420,000 50- to 69-year-old women who should be screened.
A recent report by the Spanish Association Against Cancer warned that 34% of women diagnosed with breast cancer will lose their job, while 70% will see a reduction in their income.
In 2020, over 2.2 million cases were diagnosed globally, according to World Health Organization and around 685,000 women died because of breast cancer, making it the leading cause of mortality in women.
Covid doesn’t stop thousands of runners
The Women’s Race 2021 was planned in accordance with Covid-19 protocols after the 2020 race was moved online because of the pandemic. This is not the first massive race since the outbreak of the pandemic as over 15,000 runners took part in Barcelona Marathon on November, 7.
Before the marathon, 11,500 people ran the Firefighter’s Race, on October 24 in the Catalan capital.