A record number of runners, 1,629, joined the For The Heroines run on Friday morning in support of women with breast cancer.
While raising awareness of the disease, families and individuals ran between one and 10km in the Jezreel Mountains in Israel's north dressed in pink. Participants chose from a range of routes, including a 1km family course, a 3.5km popular route, and competitive 2km, 5km, and 10km races.
Yokneam Mayor Roman Peres said, “It is moving to see so many people coming for a run of hope and support; this goes beyond sport.
“It is a great privilege for us in Yokneam to host this important and moving run and to lead a sports revolution in our city," Peres added. "The incredible connection between community, sport, and such a profound meaning has created tremendous inspiration and great hope for women coping with the disease. Thank you to all the heads of councils and local authorities who rallied for the event. Dear women, we are all with you, in pink, with hope.”
The event also featured a Hanukkah fair and a special expo including complementary medicine treatments, a community space, information for women and families, and additional activities.
All proceeds from the event will be transferred to the “Beit Shulamit” oncology system at Emek Medical Center, to fund complementary treatments and support for patients.
Behind the For The Heroines run
The run was led by For the Heroines, the Yokneam Municipality, and the Jezreel Valley Regional Council, the Megiddo, Gilboa, and Ramat Yishai councils, alongside Emek Medical Center.
Galit Tamir, the founder of the run, moved participants when she said, “Wow. This is the fifth time I’ve stood on this stage and seen the pink dream come true. When I was dealing with cancer, I went through months that were not easy, filled with loneliness, pain, and a lot of fear. It was my running group friends who ran for me around the world and showed me that I was loved and dear to them. That was the strongest medicine I received. I swore then that I would do everything to make complementary medicine accessible to every woman as part of treatment within the oncology system. The funds from the run are for this purpose. Thank you for the support, the joy, for this moment. And one more word, go get checked.”
Emek Medical Center Director Dr. Meir Maman added, “All of us are here for our heroines who are fighting breast cancer. For them, just a month ago, we opened ‘Beit Shulamit,’ the new and special cancer center we established in the valley. This event gives hope to so many women. Many thanks to Yokneam and its leadership for allowing us to color the valley pink with hope. This is not something to be taken for granted, nor is the incredible partnership with the local authority heads here. Dear heroines, we are here for you.”