My Mushings

If you can convert the time you run a kilometer to save a Filipinas life  – would you do so?

This is exactly what Bravehearts and the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS)  are setting out to do in the Millennium Run for Women’s Health. To be held on November 6, 2011, the fundraising event aims to increase awareness on women’s health issues. Unlike your ordinary run, registration fees of participants will help fund different POGS initiatives for women’s health. Meanwhile, as part of this momentous event, runners will also be pledging their support for women’s issues— specifically pregnancy related deaths, breast cancer and cervical cancer.

Every year over 4,500 Filipinas die of childbirth, about 8,000 women die from breast cancer and 4,380 from cervical cancer – numbers that are significantly higher compared to their counterparts in the region. And although poverty can be considered as a contributing factor to the increase of female mortality caused by reproductive health complications, Dr. Rey Delos Reyes – Overall Chairman of the POGS National Convention, says that the main problem can be pinpointed to the lack of awareness among the public.

“ This is the first time that members of Bravehearts will be running for women’s health—because what we usually do is ride our bicycles for the cause” quips Abbygale Arenas – De Leon – Bravehearts President, in reference to the highly successful biking fundraiser event initiated by Bravehearts, The Tour of Hope (TTOH). “ But just the same, the organization is extending the same support and passion for this event; after all, POGS is after the same objective which is to improve the reproductive health of Filipinas.”

True enough, the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society is initiating the Millennium Run for Women’s Health in support of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG) — one of the goals, which POGS is specifically targeting, is improving maternal health.

A Legacy of Warriors For Women’s Health

Aside from its support for Millennium Run for Women’s Health, Bravehearts has previously initiated pro-women’s activities, the most prominent of which is The Tour of Hope (TTOH), a fundraising bike event for cervical cancer awareness.

With this project, TTOH was able to raise funds that were donated for the purchase of cervical cancer vaccines for indigent women in selected provinces across the Philippines. Through this project, Bravehearts has been able to form partnerships with different local government units in areas such as Quezon City, Pampanga and Pangasinan in order to make cervical cancer vaccinations more accessible to their constituents.

Bravehearts is currently supported by a growing number of women, including prominent personalities such as Abbygale Arenas-de Leon, who is the current president of the organization, Jeena Lopez, Pia Magalona, Tessa Prieto-Valdez, Gem Padilla, Maimai Dabao, and Suzi Entrata.

“ In the fight for women’s health, the women of Bravehearts and the doctors from POGS can already be considered as ‘warriors,’” notes Abbygale Arenas – De Leon “But our organizations cannot win this fight by ourselves—and that’s why we encourage everyone to join us for the Millennium Run for Women’s Health, come November 6.”