16,000 women taking the fight against cancer in Madrid

Ready, set ... go! This morning at 9 the VII Women's Race began for the fight against cancer.

The event, organized by the magazine "Runner's World" and "Sports Life," seeks to raise money for the Spanish Association against Cancer, which will receive one euro for each dorsal sold. This year, nine Spanish cities have joined the initiative. Today it was up to Madrid.

After a minute of silence for Juan Antonio Samaranch, 16,000 women and some men in a wig have moved ahead from the Paseo de Coches del Retiro. Passing Menéndez Pelayo, some people, mostly men, were waiting to give them encouragement. It could also be seen in the decline to several TV cameras to which the girls that greeted with joy.

They had to cross the Plaza de Mariano de Cavia, Paseo Infanta Isabel, Calle Alfonso XII, the Plaza de la Independencia and Calle Alcalá. The tour ended in the same place that it started. Around 9:25 AM the fastest began to cross the finish line.

Penelope Baths, winner of this year, has taken a time of 20 minutes and 48 seconds. Ana Gayarre and Amaya Sanfabio were the following women to reach the finish. Others have preferred to go for a quiet ride and even some mothers have taken their children, which were with their hand or with baby carriages.

In the Paseo de Coches, you can purchase different items and gifts, among the various sponsoring brands that had a stand, to include Central Dairy Asturiana, GoGirl, Cosmopolitan, Asics or Buckler. Attendees were able to enjoy, in addition, the presence of Paula Vazquez and Dafne Fernandez, and also Anne Igartiburu, sponsor of this race, and some professional athletes.

At the end of the sporting event, there has been an aerobics and fitness show, Indian dances and a concert by Sergio Rivero.

The next meeting will be the day 23 in Santiago de Compostela. The matritians this year have stayed at home, and they can start thinking about the race of 2011. We do not ask competitiveness or professionalism, but wanted to play sports and help each other with a gesture that costs very little, but make them happy for many.