Pink takeover in Bologna: 20,000 at Giardini Margherita for Race for the Cure, Mayor Lepore at the start, police chief joins the race

Bologna turned pink from the early morning hours for the twentieth edition of the Race for the Cure, the event against breast cancer organized by the Emilia Romagna Regional Committee of Komen Italia. As reported by Resto del Carlino, thousands of people reached the Health Village set up at Piazzale Jacchia, at Giardini Margherita, on foot, by bicycle, car, motorcycle and public transport.

Twenty thousand at the start

At 10 a.m. sharp, the non-competitive race started along the streets of central Bologna, applauded by thousands of tourists. On the starting line were Mayor Matteo Lepore, Councilor for Sport and Budget Roberta Li Calzi and Komen Italia president Alba di Leone. Also present was Bologna Police Chief Gaetano Bonacorso, who wore the event's t-shirt and ran alongside the other participants.

According to Resto del Carlino, there were 20,000 official registrations, coming from all over Italy: the group from the farthest distance, awarded on stage, came from Bari, followed by teams from Merano, Pesaro and several cities in Emilia Romagna. In total, 350 teams were present; those that stood out for the number of registrations were awarded as always.

Prevention at the heart of the event

Alongside the sporting aspect, the day had a strong health dimension: volunteer doctors coordinated by IRCCS Sant'Orsola and the Bologna Local Health Authority carried out 660 specialist visits in fields ranging from breast care to gynecology, as well as urology, cardiology, ophthalmology and nephrology.

National president of Komen Italia, Alba di Leone, highlighted the significance of the milestone reached: "We have reached twenty years of an event that knows no fatigue and always finds new energy to stand beside citizens." Di Leone recalled that the energy of the event comes above all from women who have faced the disease and their families, and described the Bologna stage as "the ideal start" to October, dedicated to prevention, which will see Komen Italia also engaged in Parma with the Pink Tie Ball.

Thanks to the support raised through Race for the Cure events organized throughout Italy, Komen Italia has so far invested over 40 million euros in projects for women's health.