Cancer survivors sail for life

FIVE incredible women who beat cancer stopped off in Malaga on Tuesday November 8 on their way to complete the Pelayo Life 2016 Challenge, which will see them sail from Valencia across the Atlantic to Martinica.

Although they had not met before, the five all have one main thing in common, they won the fight against cancer and are now once again looking forwards.

Marian, Susana, Patricia, Carmen and Yolanda all spoke during their brief stop in Malaga of the battles they had fought against the disease, which has now become Spain’s number one killer surpassing heart disease.

Though none have any previous experience in sailing, all five said when they heard about the challenge they knew they had to take part to raise awareness and prove there can indeed be life after cancer.

After setting off from Valencia a week ago and stopping in Malaga on Tuesday, the next call for the Cannonball yacht was Tenerife, before it embarked on the ocean crossing itself. The women are due to arrive in Martinica, in the Caribbean, on December 1. The boat’s crew consists of 12 people altogether, including Alberto Frances, an experienced traumatologist from Infanta Elena Hospital, while Quironsalud are acting as the official medical partner for the trip.