Mama Maratona update
Two weeks back we talked about the Mama Maratona that was going to take place on October 13 and today we’re here to give you a bit of an update as to the results of the event.
Around six thousand people took part in this year’s run, which was the thirteenth annual such event organized. There were several races or marches that were organized and in total they raised in excess of 25,000 Euros for the cause.
The event offered several options to cater to all runners, the serious fitness aficionados could choose the 21 kilometer half marathon while those who were interested to go at a more leisurely pace went for the 10 kilometer mini-marathon or those who preferred walking could go for the five or eight kilometer walking routes.
As the case has been for the past twelve years, this year’s event, or MM13 as it has become known, wanted to raise awareness about cancer, especially breast cancer, while at the same time promoting a healthy lifestyle and raising funds for the ‘Casa Flor das Dunas’ project.
When finished, the Casa Flor das Dunas is meant to provide temporary accommodation for radiotherapy patients who would otherwise have to travel long distances every day to get their treatment in Faro.
These treatment sessions will usually only last for a few minutes but since Faro is the only radiotherapy unit in the Algarve region, it means that patients from all over the region have to come here and travel considerable distances to do so.
The organization is looking to apply for EU funding in order to build the home but they will only be eligible for such aid once they raise a minimum of 500.000 Euros.
The event was joined by some high profile athletes and ex-athletes, for instance Olympic athlete Elly van Hulst, who held the 3000m indoor world record for 12 years from 1989 to 2001, as well as Fernanda Ribeiro and Carlos Cabral.
