Charity race raises breast cancer awareness

The 2019 More Than Aware fun run took place at Century Park in Shanghai's Pudong New Area on Saturday, drawing more than 3,000 participants of all ages from around the world, including 550 survivors of breast cancer.

The event, which was in its seventh edition, featured a 5-kilometer runand a 2-kilometer walk events.

"It is great to see so many people gather here to support those who have suffered and survived breast cancer," said a participant from UK who prefers to know only by her first name Vanessa. 

As a second-time participants, she said, "I feel empathetic for this special community because my father died of lung cancer. I am deeply impressed by their courage and spirit." 

Xu Qiong, a 63-year-old breast cancer survivor from the Shanghai Cancer Recovery Club who has participated for six consecutive years, expressed her gratitude toward the organizers, saying that the event has created an empowering atmosphere that is necessary to encourage those who have just recovered from cancer.

A total of 75 volunteers from 14 different countries took part in the event to provide services for the participants. 

"We came here to empower women to be more proactive about their health," said a Japanese participant called Mika, who has been a race volunteer for six years since her recovery from breast cancer.

"We were depressed when we got cancer, but we came together and supported each other in the community. It helped with the recovery," she added.

Founded in 2011 by Suzanne Calton, More Than Aware helps to raise people's awareness of breast cancer and the importance of a healthy life. The funds raised during the event will be donated to the Shanghai Cancer Recovery Club.

Tang Xiaofan contributed to this story.