MADRID, 12 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
More than 33,000 women participated this Sunday in the Barcelona Donut Race, the ninth and final race of the 2023 circuit of the Central Lechera Asturiana Women’s Race, in which the Catalan Cristina Silva took the victory.
The renovated 7.7 kilometer circuit took the ‘pink tide’ through some of the main streets of the center of Barcelona, with start and finish around the Arc de Triomphe. After the running race, there was also a one-hour fitness and aerobics festival guided by the best instructors from Les Mills, Dance Emotion, Ballet Fit and Zumba, and a musical performance by Team D’Luxe.
The Catalan Cristina Silva took the victory after reaching the finish line in a time of 26:47, almost half a minute ahead of the Aragonese Sara Benedí, winner of the Central Lechera Asturiana Women’s Race in Zaragoza. Anna Beltrán was third with 27:35, while Laura Vílchez and Silvia Segura were fourth and fifth, respectively. The first five finishers are runners from the Oysho team.
Before the start, Paralympic triathlete Eva Moral, bronze medalist in Tokyo 2020 and who has been part of the Sports Santander team, and Paralympic athlete Melani Berges, were honored for their contribution to women’s sports and society. “Tokyo was a dream come true. Being able to now live my second experience with my family is going to be wonderful. There is less than a year left and it is going to be a very difficult challenge both physically and mentally, but we athletes love challenges so I am prepared,” said Moral about her ticket for Paris 2024.
“For me, sport has given me everything and I feel very happy to see so many women in this race today. Furthermore, it is crucial that we give visibility to Paralympic sport and I hope to encourage girls and women who have any type of disabilities are encouraged to do physical activity because it is very important for health and social integration,” he continued.
The circuit will make a contribution to the Spanish Association Against Cancer of 75,000 euros. As a novelty this year, when registering, there has also been the option to directly donate the extra amount you want and will continue to financially support three foundations focused on protecting women in different areas: Wanawake Mujer, Fundación GEICAM and Clara Campoamor.
Furthermore, in Barcelona there has been the possibility of acquiring up to 50 100% solidarity bibs in favor of the Associació de Dones Ca l’ Aurèlia and 100 100% solidarity bibs for the benefit of Special Olympics. The Z Zurich Foundation will contribute 50% of the total amount raised for this project and for each of the local solidarity projects on the circuit.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has collaborated with the Women’s Race so that more than 30 refugee and asylum-seeking girls and women participate free of charge in this event. For these girls and women forced to flee wars, violence or persecution, sport is a fundamental tool that reinforces their integration into the host society, and that promotes their physical and mental well-being. The projection of the Women’s Race in the different cities where it is held also makes visible the reality of refugees and asylum seekers and their capacity for improvement and resilience.
Another 30 refugee women hosted by the Spanish Commission for Refugee Assistance (CEAR) in Barcelona have also participated in the Women’s Race this Sunday. Women who have arrived in Barcelona after fleeing their countries of origin to look for a new home where they can continue with their lives. In their process of inclusion in the city, participating in this race allows them to enjoy a leisure activity where they can have fun while practicing sports and empowering themselves. They will be part of a unique activity to create links with the city and its new neighbors.
The Ibn Battuta Foundation, a state-level entity that works for the inclusion and social cohesion of people of immigrant origin so that they are citizens with rights and duties and equal opportunities, has also received from the organization of the test 100 free bibs.
Pulseras Rosas has also been present at all fairs nationwide, cutting pigtails and donating wigs to the most disadvantaged women, thanks to the support of Banco Santander. The Z Zurich Foundation continues its cooperation for another year with the Central Lechera Asturiana Women’s Race with the help of Zurich Seguros, one of the sponsors of the circuit. In Barcelona, one euro will be contributed to the Ca l’ Aurèlia Gifts Association for each woman who crosses the finish line. And the 33,000 participants have also been able to collaborate, within the +SOLIDARIAS campaign, with ADAEC, the Association of People Affected by Chronic Endometriosis.
In 2023 the Spanish Metastatic Breast Cancer Association has been in all cities. The #laMquefalta movement, launched by the*Daiichi Sankyo/AstraZeneca Alliance and the Spanish Association of Metastatic Breast Cancer (ACMM), calls for action by citizens, companies and institutions to make the metastatic stage of breast cancer visible and raise awareness to society about this disease. The conversation about breast cancer is incomplete without talking about metastasis, and it is currently little known by the population.
The Central Lechera Asturiana Women’s Race 2023 is sponsored by Central Lechera Asturiana, Oysho and Banco Santander. Joining them is Marlene, TotalEnergies, Zurich Seguros, Daiichy-Sankyo AstraZeneca, Welnia, ElPozo BienStar and Nestlé Fitness. With the collaboration of Barcelona City Council, and local sponsors Instituts Odontologics, Arròs Montsià, Seidypharm Seid Lab, Honda, Ara, Axalta, Dance Motion, Toyota Team’s Motor, Sonaktrona and Norauto.