Race for the Cure is an event organized by Jewish Joint Distribution Committee – JDC and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and co-organized by their local partner, Association Renesansa.
It consists of a series of 5K runs and fitness walks that raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship, and memorializes those who have died from this disease.
The organization of the event in Sarajevo started 2 months earlier. There were set of activities happening just before the Race. Between 1st and 3rd of October, Association Renesansa actively participated in the Regional WHEP (Women’s Health Empowerment Program) conference, took participation in round table on breast cancer screening programs, also in the workshop held for 24 NGOs in the region, and broad discussion on the current situation regarding breast cancer issue in Bosnia and Herzegovina and things that must be done in order to overcome the obstacles.
– B&H women united to help their friends in FB&H
The difference this year with the Race for the Cure is that Renesansa has brought it up from local to the state level. This year, 17 organizations from whole Bosnia and Herzegovina, have participated in organizing such an event as the Race, regardless of the entity they operate in.
Next to Association Renesansa, following organizations took participation in organizing the Race for the Cure 2009: ISKRA – Banja Luka; Association of Women Tuzla – Tuzla; Zivot (Life) – Zenica; Novi pogled (New View) – Mostar; Narcis – Siroki Brijeg; Biser (Pearl) – Gorazde; Brcansko srce (Brcko Heart) – Brcko; Aska – Visegrad; Zraka Sunca (Suntrack) – Kiseljak; Donna – Bugojno; Nit zivota (Lifeline) – Visoko; Bistrica – Livno; Otvori oci, dan je (Open Your Eyes, It’s Daylight) – Travnik; Vitalis – Pale and, Nada (Hope) – Jajce.
Therefore, on September 12th, Race for the Cure registration process was happening in 15 B&H cities of both entities, on the same day at the same time. Women from Republika Srpska (RS) have shown solidarity with the women from Federation of B&H (FB&H). They have organized street actions, alarmed media in RS and advocated for elimination of the waiting list for the cure Herceptin in the FB&H to help these women be cured.
“It is such an entity support and solidarity, that even our politicians never succeeded to achieve. We have registered over 3 000 people in B&H, and more 2000 of them, which means more than a half, came to the Race. We managed to gather women from Visegrad, Pale, Banja Luka (RS entity), who showed their support and solidarity with women from Federal part of B&H”, says Nela Hasic, Regional director of WHEP program.
– Not disappointed with the results
The amount of money collected was something lesser than the half of the set number of 35 000 Euros, but according to the words of Mrs. Hasic, Association Renesansa is not disappointed, since even if they did succeed to collect full amount, that would not change the situation in the country regarding the elimination of the waiting list, which is what they aim for.
„The media coverage and public interest were remarkably high, and this year all women, on the state level, advocated to help the waiting list be eliminated in FB&H, so we really do not have many reasons to be disatisfied.“, concludes Mrs. Hasic.
Collected money from the Race for the Cure in Sarajevo 2009 has been handed over to the Federal Fund of Solidarity envisioned for purchasing expensive medicines.
One medical treatment with Herceptin, costs 35 000 Euros, and according to researches, every eighth woman in Bosnia and Herzegovina suffers from breast cancer. In many cases, the cancer is diagnosed too late.
Association Renenesansa has conducted set of activities this year in order to solve this issue, and will continue their effort until the waiting list for the cure Herceptin in Federation of B&H, is eliminated.
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FB&H violates the right to life.
Photos:
Race for the Cure, October 3rd, Sarajevo 2009
