WILLEMSTAD - More than six thousand participants and numerous sponsors raised nearly three hundred thousand guilders for cancer prevention. According to the organization, the Curaçao community once again demonstrates its support for cancer patients and the importance of caring for them through the Princess Wilhelmina Fund (PWF).
The kick-off was on Sunday at seven in the morning. The crowd gathered at Brionplein for the Walk for the Roses, a 7.8-kilometer route over the high Julianabridge via Waaigat, Penstraat, and Mari Pompun to Mambo Beach/BLVD.
There was an alternative walking route of five kilometers from Brionplein over the Emmabridge to Mambo Beach/BLVD. Dj Maarten Schakel provided the entertainment as usual. Upon arrival, the walkers were given a rose, as well as a soft drink and a piece of fruit; this also applied to participants in other sporting events.
The three cycling parts of the Ride for the Roses went smoothly according to the organization. While walkers were still arriving, cyclists departed at eight o'clock for various distances; first the sixty, then the forty km, shortly followed by the Easy Ride of ten km, to Punda and back.
Start and finish were always at Mambo Beach/BLVD. That morning, there were Xtra fit sessions by Blue Maxx Health Club at Madero at scheduled times to keep the body flexible; this was also enthusiastically received.
At Zanzibar/Jan Thiel bay, swimmers started shortly after noon. First the competitive swimmers and then the recreational swimmers, all coming out of the water at Wet & Wild. Upon arrival, John Anthony and Dj Boogieman provided cheerful entertainment.
When the last swimmers were in just after half-past two, the first kite surfers, windsurfers, and wing foilers from Klein Curaçao also arrived at Mambo Beach. They were separately highlighted in the sun. It was the second consecutive year that surfers have been part of this event.