A Riviera run to help fight cancer

Mimosa Matters describe themselves as a community against cancer – and among many of their successful projects they have been able to see the opening of a non-medicated drop-in clinic in Antibes, L’Espace Ligue, where there is free holistic treatment on offer such as reflexology as well as practical assistance, advice and support.

The money they raise is given to the French cancer charity La Ligue Contre le Cancer in the Alpes-Maritimes and they work with the association to decide how best to use the funds raised from each event.

On November 13, they are hoping to attract more than 200 people to take part in the Nice-Cannes marathon and want to beat the €21,000 they raised last year. This year the money will be used to fight breast and prostate cancer in the Alpes-Maritimes.

Committee member Juliette Clarkin said: “The great thing is that you can enter as a team of six and just run a 3km leg.

“Last year 130 people took part in our Mimosa Runners team and many of them said before they started that they didn’t run. However lots of them enjoyed it so much that now they have become addicts!

“We have a trainer who organises sessions every week and we help with all the paperwork. It’s a great way to shake off the rosé, get fit and do something to help the local community.” Mimosa Matters encourages each person who takes part to raise €100 and all the runners wear a mimosa-coloured T-shirt.

The association was formed by six women three years ago after the brother of one became ill with pancreatic cancer, and many of the others had friends or family affected by the disease. Their first event was a black-tie Mimosa Ball and it proved a successful way of raising money.

Many of the people involved are in the expat community in the area and local businesses are benevolent to this cause. “We found that a lot of people really want to give something back to the area they are living in so these events are a wonderful way of getting the community involved in fundraising,” says Ms Clarkin.

“All of our committee members have different experiences and skills which we pool together around each event while working closely with La Ligue Contre le Cancer and they are very supportive.

“We would love people to sign up to the Nice-Cannes marathon, it is great fun in the build-up plus we always have a really good celebration at the end.”

www.mimosamatters.org