Cartagena turns pink for a day of support and awareness this Saturday

The charity walk will lead into a full programme of activities for people affected by breast cancer

Cartagena will hold a day of support and awareness for people affected by breast cancer on Saturday October 17, with a solidarity walk, family activities and information about the importance of early detection.

Organised by the Spanish Association Against Cancer, known as the AECC, the event is being held with the Cartagena Ayuntamiento and the Carmesí Women’s Association. The morning will begin at 10.00am with a pink walk from Alameda, beside El Corte Inglés, ending at the Town Hall square.

The programme continues at 11.00am with the reception of local authorities. From 11.30am, visitors can take part in a solidarity chain of cushions for people with lymphoedema, charity caricatures by María Ángeles, a personal care area called “A Moment for You” with Mary Kay and a balloon workshop for children.

Activities resume at 5.00pm with a physical activity session led by Cari Nicolás Liarte, a healthy biscuit decorating workshop with Panais Obrador, a Da Vinci bridge-building activity and face painting.
Cristina Mora, Councillor for Social Policy and Equality, encouraged people in Cartagena to take part. “Every step counts, every bit of support makes a difference and every timely check-up can save a life,” she said.

Carlos Fernández de Simón Bermejo, president of the AECC in Cartagena, spoke about the number of cases and the need to support patients in different ways. According to the figures presented, 1,165 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the Region of Murcia in 2025. The national forecast for 2026 is around 38,000 diagnoses.

Five-year net survival is now above 85% and can reach 99% when the disease is found at an early stage. “What’s important is the human aspect. It’s the person who is affected,” he said, while calling for continued support for research, screening and psychological and social care.

Encarna del Álamo, a breast cancer survivor, thanked the organisations involved and urged people to join the march.

“We need to fill Cartagena with pink T-shirts. We need to fill them because we have to make ourselves visible,” she said.

Solidarity T-shirts will be available at the designated space at ICUE on Thursday and Friday, both morning and afternoon. They can also be bought at the association’s headquarters and at the entrance to El Corte Inglés.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena