Medellín was the setting for the Race of the Roses, in which more than 12,000 people came together to run in support of those affected by breast cancer. Today, on October 19th, World Breast Cancer Day, Vervantis commemorates this event, in which our employees ran in honor of their friends, mothers, wives, and family members who have faced this disease at some point in their lives or are currently facing it.

The Race of the Roses featured the participation of men, women, children, and even pets. It didn’t matter whether they walked or ran; what truly mattered was the message behind this simple race, which was to celebrate life and convey the importance of performing self-examinations and looking after one’s health.

What is the Race of the Roses?

It is a sporting event that originated in 2016 to carry a message of life and hope to thousands of women so that they don’t succumb to breast cancer and conduct self-examinations to detect it in time. This event was created by the Alma Rosa Foundation with the initiative of Lina Hinestroza, its founder and a breast cancer survivor, in collaboration with the JAO company (Creators of CORREMITIERRA and Directors of major events and experiences).

Alma Rosa Foundation:

The Alma Rosa Foundation was established to save women’s lives through campaigns that promote early detection of breast cancer. So, the Race of the Roses is a sporting activity that helps us continue to spread this message of life and prevention to thousands of people, enabling women to take timely action.

The race featured different distances: a 15K distance for amateur runners looking to challenge themselves and prepare for a half marathon, a 10K distance for recreational athletes who enjoy running and street races, a 5K distance for those who enjoy sports or are starting their journey in running, and a 2K distance, which is very comfortable for adults, children, or families who want to cover a shorter route or bring their pets along.

It was a highly symbolic day, where the streets of Medellín were filled with participants dressed in pink shirts who ran in honor of women suffering from this disease.

It is important to note that the resources raised were allocated to the nonprofit Alma Rosa Foundation so that it can continue conducting communication and awareness campaigns and speak directly to women about the early detection of breast cancer.

It is estimated that 1 in 8 women is likely to develop breast cancer at some point in their lives, and this disease doesn’t affect women alone. Approximately 0.5% and 1% of breast cancer cases globally impact men. This is why performing self-examination is crucial, as early detection of this disease can save lives.