Anémona commemorates Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Benidorm, urging Comprehensive support for patients

Anémona Marina Baixa, the support group for women with breast and gynaecological cancer in Benidorm and other towns across the region, has called for comprehensive care for women living with the disease. The association is urging closer coordination between primary care, hospitals and social services, as well as equal access to diagnostic services, innovative treatments and specialist care, regardless of where patients live, to improve their quality of life.

The Assembly Hall at Benidorm Town Hall hosted the reading of the 2026 Manifesto yesterday afternoon, prepared by the Spanish Federation of Breast Cancer (FECMA) to mark International Breast Cancer Awareness Day, observed on 19 October. The manifesto was read by Gema Rostoll Aznar, a Benidorm resident and member of Anémona’s staff.

Benidorm Mayor Toni Pérez, Councillor for Equality Ángela Zaragozí and other members of the local council joined María Botella, president of Anémona Marina Baixa, and members of the association at the commemorative event. Healthcare professionals were also in attendance, including José Vicente Pascual, Director of Public Health for the Marina Baixa Health Department, alongside numerous residents, friends and acquaintances who, as they had done at Sunday’s Charity Walk, came to show their support for the cause.

In addition to the reading of the 2026 manifesto, agreed upon by the 49 associations in Spain that make up FECMA, the event featured three women living with breast cancer who shared their perspectives and personal experiences of the disease alongside the association’s psychologist.

The event continued with the announcement of the winners of the second Breast Cancer Short Story Competition, organised by Anémona to introduce younger generations to the disease and raise awareness from an early age. This year’s competition involved Year 10 students (fourth year of compulsory secondary education, ESO) from Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, Beatriu Fajardo de Mendoza and Lope de Vega schools in Benidorm; L’Arabí School in l’Alfàs del Pi; and Almedia School in Callosa d’en Sarrià.

Aleissa Ruiz, a student at IES Beatriu Fajardo de Mendoza, won first prize with her short story entitled Debí. Carlos Policarpo and María Berenguer, from Lope de Vega School and Nuestra Señora de los Dolores School respectively, received second and third prizes for their stories La cita de los jueves and Vida en las sombras.

To conclude the event, Anémona President María Botella thanked Benidorm City Council and other public and private institutions for the support and assistance they provide to the association throughout the year. This backing helps fund the activities they organise to raise awareness and generate funds for therapeutic programmes and research into the disease. She also expressed her gratitude to the women who shared their personal experiences, the students who submitted their short stories to the second edition of the competition, and especially Gema Rostoll for her tireless work in support of Anémona and its members.

Benidorm Mayor Toni Pérez brought the event to a close by once again expressing his support for and admiration of Anémona’s members, highlighting their daily efforts in the fight against the disease. He also conveyed the gratitude of the entire city for the association’s work promoting sport, raising awareness and supporting research, as well as for the vital support it provides to women affected by the disease.