October is World Breast Cancer Month and local charity Maria and The Pink Ladies marked the event with an awareness campaign on Sunday 27th October at Zenia Bouevard. The event began around 12.30pm with a host of local performers taking to the stage to entertain the crowds: this included Keiley Page, Shannon Campbell, Lorna Michelle, ABBA Girls, No Limit, Chloe Leigh’s Cher tribute, David John Williams’ Rod Stewart tribute, Totally Dance Studio, Raquel Pena Flamenco Dance School, La Sal de Torrevieja. The event was hosted by Stevie Spit and supported by Sunshine FM.
Over the years this event has become well-known locally for its impressive balloon release. However, it was decided that due to the impact on the environment there would be no balloons released this year. Instead, in addition to private donations, visitors to the event were given the option to buy a rose for €2 which was then added to a mural wall on display at the event. The mural of roses formed the pink bow that is the global symbol of breast cancer awareness.
The proceeds from the event will be donated directly to Spanish anti-cancer charity the AECC and although donations were still being counted at the time of going to press, it is hoped the event will beat last year’s total of 2,632 euros.
Every minute a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer so don’t hesitate to self check, or go for a medical check-up, it might save your life.
Early signs of breast cancer can be a lump in a breast, a painful breast or armpit, or a discharge from the nipple. A doctor will most likely perform a manual exam and send you for a mammogram. A mammogram examination is painless and only takes about ten minutes.
If any of these symptoms do present themselves there’s no need to panic. Often, pain or a lump in a breast is perfectly harmless. The pain can be a sign of a cyst or the lump can be benign.
The money donated by Maria and the Pink Ladies is used by the AECC to fund its Early Detection Programme which provides subsidised tests for breast, cervical, ovarian, prostate, skin and bowel cancer. Appointments can be booked on the day or at the AECC office on the ground floor of Playa Flamenca Commercial Centre.