Benidorm commemorates World Cancer Day with the hope of achieving a 70% survival rate by 2030

The local board of the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC) called the event, with the support of the Department of Social Welfare and many of the city's social and cultural groups. Among the attendees were the mayor, Toni Pérez; the councillor, Ángela Zaragozí; other members of the corporation; and the regional deputy, José Ramón González de Zárate.

The local board president, Olga Cascales, welcomed the attendees on behalf of the AECC and then gave the floor to Roser Grau Climent, who was in charge of reading the day's manifesto this year.

Grau pointed out that in 2024 cancer "reached" 290,441 Spaniards and 12,081 in the province of Alicante, according to the AECC Disease Observatory. People for whom “a handful of words stopped the clock”.

The manifesto states that “one in two men and one in three women” in our country will have to live with the disease at some point in their lives. “People – it has been pointed out – with names and surnames”, so it is necessary to act and stand up to cancer.

The AECC proposes to delve deeper into research through the study of data. In this sense, it defends “the role of civil society” and “the creation of a commission” in which all the groups involved participate to achieve an “integrated and homogeneous model in all territories”.

According to the manifesto, the AECC supports a “commitment of all against cancer” to exceed 70% survival among affected people by 2030.

After the reading, the participants in the event formed a human bond in the square that represents the unity of all social groups against cancer and for the common good.

The day also had a fun and gastronomic aspect with the celebration of a charity ‘aperitive’ at popular prices and to benefit the AECC, on Olivos Street, in the premises of Penya l’Àncora, where participants had the opportunity to taste freshly made sandwiches and artisanal pies.