Anémona embarks on a new challenge: rowing 1,600 kilometers and reach Iria Flavia (A Coruña)

Benidorm Self-Help Group for Women with Breast and Gynaecological Cancer (Anémona) launched a new challenge today, adding to the challenges it has undertaken in previous years. This time, it is the first pilgrimage to Iria Flavia, which began this morning and will culminate on October 10th after rowing a total of 1,600 kilometres.

The official start of this challenge took place at the Club Náutico and was led by the Councillors for Social Welfare and Sports, Ángela Zaragozí and Javier Jordá, who completed the first kilometres on ergometers. According to the coach and coordinator of the challenge, Ramón Garrigós, of the Club Náutico, the challenge will consist of rowing the 1,600-kilometre distance, which separates Benidorm by sea from the Arousa estuary, aboard ergometers on land. “Each of the Anémona rowers will have to travel about 120 or 130 kilometres,” Garrigós said.

Once the distance has been covered, on October 7, the expedition will depart the following day to Cape Cruz in the Arousa estuary. “Once there, we have two days to make the pilgrimage to the Church of Santiago Apóstol in Padrón, which is about 25 kilometres away,” Garrigós said. Initially, the plan is to complete the journey in one day, although if the weather doesn't permit, “we'll do it in two.” The plan is to make technical stops every four or five kilometres “to refresh the boat or change crew.”

Iria Flavia is a parish and village in the Galician municipality of Padrón, in the province of A Coruña. According to tradition, the apostle James preached for the first time in Iria Flavia during his stay in Spain, and his body and head were brought there shortly after by his disciples Theodore and Athanasius from Jerusalem. It is said that they tied the boat to a boulder, hence the current name of Padrón.

Angela Zaragozí once again expressed the City Council's support for Anémona, while Javier Jordá encouraged them and wished them luck in this new challenge. The Sports Councillor stated that the members of Anémona "are tireless." For her part, Anémona's president, María Botella, thanked the City Council, the Yacht Club, the coach, the parish priest Juan Antonio González, and all the members for their collaboration and support, because with this challenge we want to celebrate life and the fact that we are well."