The Esport i Vida Association has made a donation from the profits of the 5th edition of the race Cursa de la Dona de Castelló d'Empúries to a breast cancer research project at the Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI). This project, which will receive 7,000 euros raised in the race, is led by Dr. Gemma Viñas, a researcher in the Precision Oncology in Girona research group (OncoGIR_Pro) at IDIBGI and an oncologist at the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Girona.
The Cursa de la Dona de Castelló d'Empúries was held on 29 May 2022, bringing together 712 participants and seventy collaborating companies. In total, the race raised 9,000 euros, 7,000 of which went to Dr. Viñas' massive genomic sequencing project to improve the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The remaining 2,000 euros have been donated to the Oncolliga of Castelló d'Empúries.
"The project aims to implement the technique of massive genomic sequencing in patients with metastatic breast cancer to allow better personalisation of treatment," says Gemma Viñas, who remarks: "As a researcher, I thank the Esport i Vida Association, and all the participants in this year's Cursa de la Dona de Castelló d'Empúries, for their involvement in the project and breast cancer research, as well as the opportunity to share a fantastic day.
"For us, and for sure for the people who participate in all the activities organised by our association, it is very important to do our bit for these projects. We are very grateful for the response, participation and collaboration of everyone involved in the Cursa de la Dona de Castelló d'Empúries, and we are pleased with the good reception our contribution to the IDIBGI research group has received", say the Esport i Vida Association.
The organisation also states that "Dr. Viñas provided us with information to explain where and what everyone's collaboration would be used for, and she came to help and support us on the day of the race - which made us very happy and moved us. We hope that this small gesture will help many women in the future", they conclude.
About the Cursa de la Dona of Castelló d'Empúries
La Cursa de la Dona de Castelló d'Empúries began to be held in 2018, when a group of women decided to promote it to raise funds for research and treatment related to cancers specifically suffered by women. These people formed the Esport i Vida Association in 2020. It was precisely that year that the pandemic altered the date and format of the race, which had to be adapted to the social and health measures to prevent COVID-19. The new format, based on the division of participants into different sections and days, was maintained in 2021. This year the Cursa de la Dona was once again held in its usual format.
Photo credit: Associació Esport i Vida
