A swim for breast cancer in Buenos Aires

Sixty swimmers converged for a 10km swim along the Río de la Plata, raising money and awareness for early detection of breast cancer

On 21 October the Río de la Plata was awash with pink-hatted swimmers taking part in the Travesía Rosa – a 10km swim of the river in Argentina’s capital city, Buenos Aires.

The swim started at Club Universitario de Buenos Aires (a sports club in the city) and ended at the San Isidro Nautical Club, with many of the swimmers donning pink swim hats in honour of the fundraiser’s signature colour.

Each participant was raising money and awareness about breast cancer in Argentina; pushing for early detection of a disease that affects 1 in every 8 women at some point in their lives.

“Travesía Rosa aims to address the challenge of early detection in developing countries like Argentina, where difficulties in accessing diagnostic studies for breast cancer can be an obstacle,” says Lucas Rivet, one of the charity’s founders alongside Julieta O-Connor. “This event raises funds to purchase mammograms, a vital tool for early detection, and, therefore increases the survival rate.”

So far this year Travesía Rosa has raised $6,735,820, which according to the fundraiser can purchase 1683 mammograms. Donations are still open for those wishing to contribute.

Lucas says of the event, “The journey is not just an athletic challenge but a testimony of empathy and solidarity. Each swimmer represents the thousands of women fighting breast cancer in Argentina and around the world. Each stroke is a message of hope.”

Donations are still open for those wishing to contribute. Visit travesiarosa.com and choose the participant’s name you’d like to donate to. For contributions from outside Argentina, please donate at paypal.me/22historiadeundesafi

Travesía Rosa will be taking place again next year – follow the fundraiser on Instagram for updates.