A cancer survivor is initiating a fun run to raise women’s awareness of the importance of early detection of breast cancer and to gather funds for indigents suffering from the disease.
The Breast Cancer Awareness Color Fun Run started in 2018 but was shelved for two years due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), said Darcy Bungay, organizer of the event together with his sister Daryl Mae Bungay Abiera, who is a cancer survivor.
“The fun run is being held during the month of October which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month as a way also of helping in the campaign,” he said in an interview on Friday.
Bungay said his sister, who works in the United States of America, started the project advocating the importance of early detection of cancer to prevent it from getting worse.
“My sister, as her way of thanksgiving for the early detection of her cancer, really comes home for the event for she would like to help raise awareness among other women,” Bungay said.
The 5–kilometer fun run on Oct. 29 will start at 5:45 a.m. from the Esplanade to Barangay San Pedro in San Jose de Buenavista.
Participants may register ahead of the event or on the day itself.
“There will be a registration of PHP100 for the professionals and PHP50 for students who would like to participate in the fun run,” he said.
Antique Medical Society member and breast surgery specialist Dr. Marie Eugenie Bravo- Melgar, in a separate interview, said every year they observe Breast Cancer Awareness month to raise awareness on the importance of early diagnosis for it would then mean a good prognosis or a better chance of cure.
“Early diagnosis is important so that the disease could already be treated before it could spread to the lungs and the liver,” she said.
Melgar added that all women were at risk of breast cancer and has multi-factorial causes such as family history, late pregnancy, diet or eating food with more preservatives and saturated fat, and lack of physical fitness.
“Women should not be afraid to seek consultation early,” she said.
Melgar said the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose de Buenavista provides free consultation and the needed equipment to discover lumps growing on the breast.
Source: Philippines News Agency
