The Fundación Carrera Por La Vida Canaria (Race for Life Foundation) held its second annual Gala and awards ceremony in honour of World Breast Cancer Day on Saturday, 19th October. This foundation, active for 19 years, is dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by breast cancer, raising awareness of the importance of early detection.
The event, held at the Infanta Leonor Auditorium in Los Cristianos, Arona, brought together over 600 attendees. The gala provided an opportunity to review the foundation's activities from the past year and honour the contributions of institutions, businesses, organisations, and individuals who support their initiatives, promoting social responsibility to improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients.
The ceremony was led by journalist Yaiza Díaz, a breast cancer patient herself. She opened with a personal speech, calling for greater public investment in cancer research, emphasising the need for better treatments with fewer physical and psychological side effects.
Various awards were presented during the event. In the sports category, Club Tenerife Masters was recognised for its "Swim for Life" initiative, a non-competitive swimming event that has supported breast cancer awareness since 2013. The INVI Association, a national leader in advocating for male breast cancer patients, received special recognition for breaking the invisibility of men with breast cancer. Regionally, the Women’s Association of Abona was awarded for its “Arico, Moving for Life” project, which supports breast cancer patients and has been a reference in community organizing for over 25 years.
The evening was filled with emotion and art, with musical performances by Candelaria González, a breast cancer survivor, guitarist Francis Yanes, and gospel singer Latonius, who has a close connection with the foundation.
Corporate social responsibility was also highlighted, with Finca Canarias Aloe Vera being honoured for both its financial commitment and its involvement in the 2022 "Dakar for Life" initiative. This project, which raises awareness of both female and male breast cancer, featured the participation of the group's president, Rafa Lemes, who drove a pink truck in the Dakar Rally.
The media award for 2024 was presented by journalist Juan Carlos Mateu to Canarian Weekly, recognising their efforts to reach non-Spanish-speaking audiences and raise awareness about breast cancer.
The foundation also stressed the importance of research, noting that one in seven women will be affected by breast cancer. A significant portion of the foundation's donations goes to research and studies, with the FERO Foundation being recognised for its advancements in breast cancer treatments. FERO’s General Director, Rubén Ventura, expressed gratitude for Carrera Por la Vida’s ongoing support and highlighted the current progress in cancer treatments, predicting that more effective drugs will emerge in the next five years, bringing us closer to a cure.
In addition to the awards, the foundation unveiled its 2025 charity calendar, titled "Fashion for Life." This calendar features collaborations with designers, makeup artists, hair stylists, and photographers to visually capture the stories of twelve breast cancer survivors.
Brigitte Gypen, president of the foundation, thanked the institutions, organisations, and volunteers for their commitment and dedication. She announced two new projects: “Pink Boost,” to promote physical activity, and “Pink Mind,” offering free psychological support to patients and their families. Gypen also called on public authorities to allocate more funds toward cancer research in the Canary Islands, emphasizing that a cure is only possible through dedicated study.
The Gala concluded with a surprise for Yaiza Díaz, who was named the “godmother” of the Carrera Por la Vida event, scheduled for December 1st, which will take place between the municipalities of Adeje and Arona.
