Dénia’s powerful pink paddle tribute brings breast cancer survivors together

Dénia turned its coastline into a sea of solidarity as breast cancer survivors and rowing teams came together for a special sporting event dedicated to raising awareness of the disease.

The eighth edition of the 100 Paladas Solidarias SUMA Contra el Cáncer de Mama took place at Marina Dénia on Sunday, September 27, bringing together sport, inclusion and a powerful message of support for those affected by breast cancer.

Survivors take to the water

At the heart of the event were teams made up of women who have overcome breast cancer, including members of SCM Rem Marina Dénia.

The competition saw crews complete between 350 and 400 metres, equivalent to the 100 strokes that give the event its name. The rowers were joined by teams from clubs including Club Náutico Santa Pola, Real Club Regatas Alicante and Club Náutico Benidorm.

For the women involved, however, the event represented much more than a sporting competition.

Members of the local team have previously spoken about how discovering rowing after cancer transformed their lives, helping them regain physical strength while providing a close-knit community of people who understood what they had been through.

A new challenge brings everyone together

This year’s programme also introduced the Desafío SUMA por la Igualdad, opening the event to rowers from different clubs and bringing women and men together in a second competition.

The equality challenge featured crews competing over 650 metres, with participants aged 14 and over. Clubs taking part included Club Náutico Jávea, Club Náutico Oliva and the Escuela de la Federación de Remo.

The event was organised with the involvement of the Federación de Remo de la Comunitat Valenciana, Club de Rem Marina Dénia, Ayuntamiento de Dénia and Marina Dénia.

More than just a regatta

Organisers say the initiative aims to highlight the positive role that sport and rowing can play during recovery from breast cancer, while creating a visible message of inclusion and support.

The timing also added to a busy weekend in Dénia, with the rowing event taking place close to the D*na Festival at Marineta Cassiana, bringing thousands of people into the city.

The local SCM Rem Marina Dénia team went into the home event with an added incentive after winning the previous edition.

And the message behind the 100 Paladas Solidarias will continue beyond Dénia, with the next edition of the year’s solidarity regatta programme scheduled to take place in Benidorm on October 4.

The IV 100 Paladas Solidarias SUMA contra el Cáncer de Mama will be hosted by Club Náutico Benidorm, marking the fourth solidarity event of the season.

As in Dénia, the programme puts women who have overcome breast cancer at the centre of the 100 Paladas Solidarias challenge, alongside the wider Desafíos SUMA por la Igualdad competition.

The Benidorm coastline is also expected to provide a particularly striking backdrop, with previous editions held around the Club Náutico and Balcón del Mediterráneo, giving spectators the chance to follow the action from the seafront.