Pink October: boating association sets sail with breast cancer patients

A boating association based in Six-Fours-les-Plages (Var) is preparing to take breast cancer patients out to sea in a colourful fleet of traditional Mediterranean boats for Octobre Rose (Pink October) breast cancer awareness month.

Some 60 passengers will participate in the event on October 7 as part of the breast cancer awareness campaign led by the local mairie.

“The event allows for time spent together in a different setting. It gives a breath of fresh air,” said Didier Sophin, president of Lou Capian – an association dedicated to the preservation and conservation of traditional pointus fishing boats.

“We pick them up in the morning, then go out on the pointus for about an hour and a half around the Île des Embiez,” he said. 

Mr Sophin, alongside around 13 other members of the association, decorate their wooden boats with pink flags to mark the occasion, while participants wear pink accessories. 

Since 2021, a series of different free events, from horseriding to skydiving, are organised each year throughout October by the mairie in partnership with cancer charities. 

“We also fundraise during the month, with the money being donated to CapSein, La P’tite Parenthèse, and La Ligue Contre le Cancer. Last year we raised €10,000,” said Béatrice Métayer, public health policy officer at the Six-Fours-les-Plages mairie. 

“For the boating experience, patients are invited by the charities and they can also be accompanied by their carers – family members, children, parents – so they can leave dry land behind and feel a little lighter out at sea.

“It is important for us to highlight the role of the carers, which is crucial but often overlooked,” she said.

The town also partners with local healthcare providers to organise cancer screenings and pop-up mammography sessions in a ‘Mammobus’ for members of
the public.

“We are delighted to see such a great sense of solidarity, especially as everything is done free of charge – the service providers come along as volunteers,” said Ms Métayer. 

Events will launch on October 1, with further details available at ville-six-fours.fr.

Visitors to Six-Fours-les-Plages can also admire the colourful ‘pointus’ boats docked at Le Brusc harbour all year round. More information can be found at loucapian.com.