RACING together to extend help in the fight against breast cancer, the MHAM (Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine Inc.) future doctors spent their Sunday with a sporty yet worthy cause on the occasion of the recently storied Pink October Run movement last Oct. 7 at the Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu.
The MHAM mavens-to-be, who aspire to be empowered young men and women of today and goal-persevering doctors of tomorrow, were among the supportive runners in this year’s fun run to empower breast cancer survivors in Metro Cebu.
Staging its 12th fruitful edition, the Pink October Run was spearheaded by the Philippine College of Surgeons Cebu Central-Eastern Visayas Chapter where MHAM Department of Surgery faculty member Dr. Ted Marcerey Gallo, who was also present during the event, is an active member.
A nationwide advocacy with an increased number of participants in Cebu City, the fun run has been actively supported by the Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente-Ayala Center Cebu and ICanServe Foundation. Breast cancer survivor-beneficiaries, medical doctors and new faces of fitness enthusiasts passionately took part in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
An annual race with three featured categories: three kilometers (3K), 6K and 12K, the Pink October Run was also split into men’s, women’s and doctors’ divisions.
The Pink October Run is one of the few races that do not bestow cash prizes to top performing racers. Instead, aside from improving one’s cardiovascular fitness and health benefits in general, the fun run benefits not only the participants year after year but also the survivor-beneficiaries with the effort from the supportive citizens who helped raise breast cancer awareness in the society.
Meanwhile, wearing a smile with a symbolic pink medal at the finish line was Nikki Nina Arabe Barcinas, a future doctor who actively participated in the event in the midst of a grinding week due to round-the-clock examinations. A lover of the color of universal love of oneself and of others, Barcinas, who is now in her third challenging year of medical school, was a cum laude graduate of BS in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Santo Tomas-Manila.
She finished in the 3K category.