‘Corri La Vita’s’ Run for Life on Sept. 24

Sunday, Sept. 24 (9:30 am): CORRI LA VITA.   Piazzale Vittorio Veneto, Cascine Park.  Donation Fee: €10.

While the fight against breast cancer has always been a treacherous one, it is one that is supported by the annual Corri La Vita fundraising event. Open to both runners and walkers, all can make a difference by enrolling since fees are given to oncology programs that study prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Participants can register at the many locations scattered across Florence or online with a donation of €10, and at a price of €15, a microchip can be purchased, acting as a pedometer to monitor progress in the race. Registration closes on September 22.

Corri La Vita provides two options: an eight-mile race (11km), and a three-mile walk (5,5km), both beginning from Cascine Park (Piazza Vittorio Veneto) at 9:30 am. The routes lead one through the streets of Florence’s historic center and the monumental hills surrounding the city, and finishes back at the same place. Many museums and parks will offer free entrance during Corri La Vita. In the morning, the public will be able to visit the courtyard of the Corsini Suarez Palace (via Maggio 42), St Mark’s English Church (via Maggio 16), Temple Leader Palace (Piazza Pitti) and the St. Sebastian dei Bini oratory and museum (via Romana 10). Some of the museums that can be toured in the the afternoon (2 pm – 6 pm) include Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Strozzi (Piazza Strozzi), Forte Belvedere (via di San. Leonardo, 1), the Ferragamo museum, the Novecento Museum of 20th Century Art (Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 10), the Basilica of Santo Spirito and the Medici Riccardi palace (via Cavour, 3). The participant will be requested to show their chip or booking confirmation upon entering.

Television host Mara Venier and radio presenter Eva Edili will introduce many celebrity guests that will be present during the event, such as Italian sports shooter Niccolò Campriani and the Fiorentina Women football team. Other stars include the winner of the last Sanremo Song Festival Francesco Gabbani, singers Tiziano Ferro and Enrico Ruggeri, Florence’s Football team ACF Fiorentina and Italian singer Paola Turci. Campriani, winner of three gold medals and one silver medal from the Rio di Janeiro Olimpics 2016, will be the starter. The band Street Clerks will also provide musical entertainment.

Since its beginnings in 2003, Corri La Vita has attracted more than 270,000 applicants to walk or run to fight breast cancer. This event also contributes to the assistance and rehabilitation of cancer patients and survivors, and how to help these individuals find normalcy despite the illness affecting their lives.

More than €4.5 million has been donated to the Corra La Vita Onlus Association and other nonprofit organizations. A project has been initiated in hopes of targeting breast cancer, led by Dr. Angelo Di Leo, focusing primarily on young women with high risk based on genetics, promoting maternity capabilities post treatment, and to reverse the adverse affects caused by the disturbances of the treatment itself.

Other recipients of Corri La Vita include the Ce.Ri.On, which specializes in rehabilitation, the SenoNetwork breast cancer database, LILT (Tumor Association), and FILE, an association that provides home and hospice care for terminally ill patients.

Photography enthusiasts may wish to take part in an Instagram competition.

Corri la Vita Onlus oganisation also encourages any runners or walkers to download the newly updated app for Apple and Android devices. One is able to track their progress and route, as well as locate the nearest sightseeing destinations.

For those that cannot attend the walk, it is still possible to contribute in exchange for a 15th edition t-shirt. For more information about the event, visit corrilavita.it. (jennifer klammer & karen gee)