Nearly 600 Join Andorra's Cursa de la Dona to Fund Chemo Hair-Loss Prevention System

Nearly 600 people participated in the 14th Cursa de la Dona on Sunday along Avinguda Meritxell in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany, raising funds for the €22,000 PAXMAN scalp cooling system to help chemotherapy patients—especially those with breast cancer—retain their hair.

Organized by the Associació de Dones d’Andorra (ADA), the event drew runners, walkers, families, and supporters despite last-minute changes to the date and time. Around 550 to 600 bibs sold out quickly, along with solidarity T-shirts, half an hour before the start. ADA president Elvira Geli called the turnout a success amid various challenges, expressing satisfaction with the positive atmosphere.

The inclusive races—2.5km and 5km—included participants of all ages and abilities. Jess Martin of the Federació Andorrana d’Atletisme (FAA) team won the 5km ahead of Nahuel Carabaña and Ariadna Fenés, with the distance also counting toward the women's absolute category in the Andorran Championships. Nine-year-old Nil Villanueva from CAVA took first in the 2.5km.

Highlights featured 90-year-old Roser Tort—mother of subsyndic general Sandra Codina and former minister Mònica Codina—finishing to cheers, alongside strollers, dogs, and people with special needs. Attendees included visitors like Maria from Badalona, who returned after last year to enjoy the event and improve her time; Meritxell with her running club tackling the 5km; Solange, motivated by family cancer losses in her first participation; and Marcelo, representing his sponsoring company.

Before staggered starts—given by Andorra la Vella's first syndic Sergi González for the 5km and Escaldes-Engordany's Rosa Gili for the 2.5km—officials including Health Minister Helena Mas and Geli spoke to the crowd. A musical warm-up preceded the races.

Geli noted the event's 14 editions have generated over €100,000 for breast cancer projects, including the Xemio app for patient monitoring and the MediBREST nutrition research initiative. Proceeds this year support the PAXMAN system for the Servei Andorrà d’Atenció Sanitària (SAAS). "It's important they feel better beyond the illness," she said.

The day ended with awards, raffles, and festivities at MoraBanc headquarters, celebrating sport, solidarity, friendship, and community. Official figures are pending.