The Algarve Oncology Association (AOA) is organising another edition of the MamaMaratona walk/race against breast cancer, which will take place on Sunday, October 16 in Quarteira.
The event has three main goals: to raise awareness about cancer, especially breast cancer, and the importance of prevention; to raise awareness about the importance of exercise and leading a healthy lifestyle; and to raise funds for the fight against cancer and to support cancer patients and their family members.
The MamaMaratona will have two routes to choose from (5km and 7km). The meeting point will be Passeio das Dunas between Quarteira and Vilamoura.
Those looking for a bigger challenge will be able to sign up for the Mini Marathon (10km) and Half Marathon (21km) which are organised by the Algarve Athletics Association but are also part of the event (although the process of signing up will be different, with more information due to be revealed soon).
The event will also feature several other activities, such as cancer prevention awareness initiatives, health screenings, fitness exercises and live entertainment provided by singer Catarina Cavaco.
Registrations for the MamaMaratona begin on September 26. The minimum donation accepted is €5, although participants can choose to donate any value they want. After signing up, participants receive a kit with a backpack, t-shirt, hat and flyers.
There will be several ways to sign up, either online or in person at the following locations:
- Faro (AOA headquarters and the Forum Algarve information desk)
- Loulé (Quarteira parish council and Artbody gym in Loulé)
- Portimão (BLIP fair on October 8).
To sign up online, participants will be asked to send an email to [email protected] with their name, date of birth and contact information and proof of payment.
Participants will also be signed up for a contest which will be held on October 17. Every participant’s registration number will be put into a draw using the www.random.org website, where the winners will be randomly selected. The results will be announced on AOA’s social media pages (Instagram and Facebook) and on the official MamaMaratona website (www.aoa.pt/mamamaratona/). The prizes have not yet been revealed.
2.3 million diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685,000 deaths globally in 2020.
“As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past five years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer,” WHO adds.
The organisation adds that breast cancer occurs in every country of the world in women at any age after puberty but with increasing rates in later life.
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