Toni Pérez: «many cities should have an Anemone in their daily life»
Benidorm, with Anémona, makes visible the support for women suffering from breast cancer
The Municipal Center 'el Torrejó' hosted last night the reading of the manifesto that, on the occasion of the celebration of International Breast Cancer Day, has been written by the Spanish Federation of Breast Cancer, FECMA, of which Anémona, Self-help Group, is a part for women with breast and gynecological cancer in Benidorm and the Marina Baixa.
The event was attended by the mayor, Toni Pérez, and among the public, the Councilor for Equality, Ángela Zaragozí and numerous members of the Municipal Corporation, who thus showed their support for the organization chaired by María Botella.
Maria Pilar Barreto, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Valencia, and one of the women who have overcome the disease in Spain was in charge of reading the FECMA manifesto, as in many other locations across the country.
In a didactic and constructive way, requesting the participation of the public in those points of greatest interest, the Canarian professor supported the defense of the Public Health System and the fact that Spain is "an outstanding country in conducting clinical trials". Likewise, she showed concern about the associations of those affected by the disease in "the delay" and "the access" to innovative medicines.
Barreto elaborated on the concern about metastatic breast cancer, "an experience that produces uncertainty and causes needs that are not easy to respond to" and called for "comprehensive care", updated national cancer registries, and valued "personalized precision medicine ”.
For her part, María Botella took advantage of the moment to thank the involvement of Benidorm society with Anémona, highlighting the support received by the local government team. “We drive you crazy, Angie”, she said pointing to the mayor of Equality and “you are always there”, referring to the also present Councilor for Sports, Mariló Cebreros. Botella also valued the attitude of the Municipal Technical Services in organizing and conducting the entity's events throughout the year.
Lastly, the president of Anémona recalled the twenty years that have passed since her birth, which "have passed quickly" and valued the work carried out by the volunteers. Bottle and paid tribute to the absent companions who could not overcome the disease.
The person in charge of closing the act, the mayor of Benidorm, said he felt "very happy" after reading the manifesto by Barreto for having "done manifest therapy" and having transmitted "peace" and the "conviction and determination to know what is what is in your hands”,
Pérez pointed out that he does not celebrate Breast Cancer Day. "I celebrate defeating it" and hailed the "giving visibility to the fight" that Anémona represents, an association that every October "gives us a whiplash in spirit, in illusion and hope" and, even more so because " We all have people around us who have suffered.”
Toni Pérez recalled that at the beginning of the century, before the birth of Anémona, "we did not have the specific treatments" that are applied today, which has allowed the increase in survival, although "we still have a long way to go."
The mayor ended his speech wishing that other "many cities should have an Anemone in their day to day" because the association "helps to be a better society and better people", highlighting "the joy" that its volunteers show when they run, row or they march.
Next Sunday, Benidorm will live again, and without restrictions like the previous year, a new edition of the Anémona Solidarity March that will start at 10:00 a.m. from the Plaza de Sus Majestades Los Reyes de España, the 'Pink Tide ' (although this year the commemorative shirt is black) that each year reminds us that the fight against breast cancer continues and defeating it is everyone's business.