The fifth edition of the “Pink Arrows Against Breast Cancer” initiative was officially presented on Wednesday, September 30, at the Hotel Extremadura in Cáceres, bringing together sports federation leadership, health officials, municipal leaders, and regional government representatives to back an expanding schedule of archery events designed to aid recovery and awareness, laportadadeextremadura.com reported.
Led by the Extremadura Archery Federation (FEXTA), the project’s core mission centers on demonstrating how sport assists individuals undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment to reclaim daily routines, leave home, and find supportive spaces for social connection and physical rehabilitation. The presentation drew a broad coalition of stakeholders, featuring FEXTA President Raquel de San Macario alongside Isabel Rolán, president of the Extremadura Oncological Association (AOEX), and regional social policy and health representatives.
Leaders Emphasize Sports for Public Health and Social Cohesion
The organizing committee united multiple administrative levels rarely seen at a single table for a sporting cause.
San Macario emphasized that the initiative provides vital routines and emotional outlets for patients and survivors. Evelio Robles emphasized the necessity of humanizing medical care beyond the conclusion of clinical treatments, while Jaime Jabato praised sport as an effective instrument for public health, social cohesion, and community transformation.
Archery Movements Promote Lymphatic Drainage for Mastectomy Patients
Medical literature supports the physical mechanics of the sport within the project’s “Arco y Salud” (Archery and Health) sessions. Following a mastectomy involving the removal of lymph nodes, many patients develop lymphedema—a condition marked by swelling, pain, and restricted arm mobility. The fundamental movements of archery—drawing the bow, holding the tension, and releasing—specifically engage the affected musculature, while the physical vibration of the shot promotes lymphatic drainage in the upper body. Research from institutions such as the Infanta Leonor Hospital in Madrid has previously linked these physical motions to aiding in lymphedema prevention.
The initiative expanded its scope in 2024 to raise visibility for male breast cancer, a diagnosis that remains largely unacknowledged in public health discussions.
Honoring Inés María Pérez and the 2026 Schedule
The upcoming tournament carries deep emotional resonance following the August passing of Inés María Pérez, a prominent board member of AOEX and a dedicated figure in the “Pink Arrows” campaign who took up archery at age 70. Despite navigating her later years with a walker, Pérez regularly attended Friday training sessions, shooting from a seated position. Fátima Agudo, an archer connected to the project since its inception, remembered her commitment as a pillar of the community, noting that her absence was acutely felt during the Cáceres presentation while affirming that participants would approach the sport with the joy Pérez always displayed.
Open house sessions form the backbone of the project, welcoming patients, family members, and novices without requiring prior experience, licenses, or adherence to age limits. The seven-stop calendar begins on October 9 in Moraleja, followed by a triple fixture on October 17 across Plasencia, Cáceres, and La Zarza. Events continue in Mérida on October 25, Don Benito on October 30, and Villanueva de la Vera on November 7.
The closing national ranking tournament takes place on November 8 in Villanueva de la Vera, succeeding La Coronada as the host town. All proceeds generated from registrations and zero-dorsal contributions go directly to AOEX.
Growth Across Five Regional Editions
The initiative has steadily expanded across Extremadura since its 2022 inception in La Zarza, which drew 75 archers. Subsequent editions traveled to Puebla de Sancho Pérez in 2023, the Cáceres Sports City in 2024 following a formal agreement between FEXTA and AOEX, and La Coronada in 2025, before arriving in the northern province of Villanueva de la Vera for 2026.
Tournament Calendar and Deadlines
- October 9: Opening open house session in Moraleja
- October 17: Triple fixture across Plasencia, Cáceres, and La Zarza
- October 25: Open house session in Mérida
- October 30: Open house session in Don Benito
- November 7: Session in Villanueva de la Vera
- November 8: National ranking tournament final in Villanueva de la Vera
