October usually brings several walks to raise awareness about breast cancer and also raise funds for the treatment of patients that are battling different forms of cancer in Costa Rica; this year is no exception.

The first event, “Corre por mí” (Run for Me), will take place this Sunday, October 1st at 6:30 a.m. going out from the National Stadium in La Sabana. This event offers several modalities, a 2-kilometer walk; 4, 8 and 12 kilometers run, and kids’ marathon, this last one will take place September 30 at 9 a.m. Registration is open online at www.correpormi.com, or the Brooks Stores in Pavas, Curridabat and Santa Ana; Intelec in Heredia and San José; Athletic Corner in Cartago and Zona Extrema Multisport in Alajuela. This is the ninth edition and it has managed to raise a total of almost US$300,000.00 throughout the years for the benefit of different foundations.

The already traditional Ross Foundation “Caminata Contra El Cáncer” (Walk Against Cancer) will celebrate its fourteenth edition on October 8th at 8 a.m. As usual, the activity includes a walk and a marathon, but this year the goal is different, aside from raising awareness, the activity seeks to collect funds to open an early detection clinic that would offer diagnosis services for the five most common forms of cancer in Costa Rica, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer and gastric cancer.

Usually the Ross Foundation averages between $50,000 and $80,000 in the annual activity, funds that are invested in different organizations and actions to fight breast cancer. This year, however, they will allocate 20% of the amount collected exclusively for the new clinic.

According to Vicky Ross, president of the foundation, the idea is that the clinic is fully equipped to offer mammograms, ultrasounds, endoscopies, gastroscopies, and skin evaluations. The foundation estimates that the cost of this center will be of close to $1 million and they hope to be able to gather enough funds through the different activities, as well as private donations from individuals and companies to be able to open the center by 2019.

“Even though early detection is a priority in the country, the majority of cancer types are detected late, and this has to do with lack of infrastructure and access to low-cost health services”, stated the organization in a press release.

Registration is open online at www.evolutionmarketingcr.com and www.caminataross.com.