ICM holds Pink Run & Zumba Marathon to spread awareness about breast cancer

By Leo Udtohan 

Participants during Island City Mall's Pink Run and Zumba Marathon in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Photo: Jean Lasconia

The early detection of breast cancer relies greatly on awareness.

This is the reason why Island City Mall (ICM) continues to hold the Pink Run and Zumba Marathon every October in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Breast cancer awareness is one of the many advocacies of ICM aimed at enabling spaces that care for the welfare of women. 

Indeed, it was a sea of pink last October 23, 2022 when the ICM, in cooperation with the Bohol Provincial Health Office and the Tagbilaran City Health Office, conducted the event to continue spreading and disseminating information about breast cancer. 

Women and men of all ages took the 3K, 5K, 10K, and 16K challenge. 

Participating in a fun run also helps people get motivated, stay focused, and get more determined to push themselves to cross the finish line, while helping achieve the fundraising goal for a noble cause.

ICM Manager Mario Cirujales awarded the medals to the finishers who included Miss Tagbilaran 1987 Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin and her daughter Cielo. 

Fiel started as a breastfeeding advocate in January 14, 1997 when she gave birth to her daughter and this October, through a rather dramatic turn, has become a breast cancer awareness advocate together with Cielo on this very timely activity that focuses on one of the most critical health issues impacting women around the globe. 

Very visible Alturas Group of Companies (AGC) functionaries during the event were Gay Ido–Bernaldez, Ritchel Mutia, and Armao Araoarao–Balo.

Mayor Jane Yap, the youngest elected and first woman mayor of the city government of Tagbilaran, who graced the activity, encouraged those present to give attention and inform women on the importance of regular self-breast examination and the critical role of screening for the early detection and treatment of breast cancer, as it is the third leading cause of cancer deaths among Filipinos. She said there is a need to heighten awareness efforts for early detection and treatment to empower women to take charge of their health because most often, they care more for the health of their family members over their own wellbeing.  

A significant mother-daughter bonding.  Fiel Angeli Gabin and her daughter Cielo  during ICM's Pink Fun Run and Zumba in observance of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Contributed photo

Also, it may be remembered that last October 9, ICM also sponsored the symposium with Dr. Julienne Deo Jabonillo as guest speaker and free clinic that provided consultation, blood sugar test, and cholesterol test for AGC and the general public. The event was also graced by social media influencer Dan Cahulogan. 

The Breast Cancer Awareness Month had its beginnings in 1985 with the partnership forged between the American Cancer Society and the Imperial Chemical Industries pharmaceutical division. 

Former United States First Lady Betty Ford, as she was herself a breast cancer survivor, supported the launching of the week-long event. She was diagnosed when her husband, Gerald Ford, was president of the United States and brought even more attention to breast cancer.

Educating women about breast cancer and early detection tests so that they could take charge of their breast health was the early goal of the breast cancer awareness month.  It was in 1992 when the Estée Lauder cosmetics launched the first nation-wide campaign in the US that used the pink ribbon. They handed out an impressive 1.5 million pink ribbons that introduced the pink ribbon as the premier visual reminder of breast cancer awareness month.

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