In early October, 30,000 participants, Florentines and foreigners alike, turned out to walk a 5km or run a 14km track in support of breast cancer research, raising €430,000, a new record for this great charity event Corri la Vita, “Run for Life”.

A group of ISI students participated in both the walk and the run, sporting the bright yellow Corri la Vita t-shirts and grinning despite the early hour and chilly temperatures. “It was such a rewarding experience to participate in the 14km and support research for breast cancer,” says Ilana Guitierrez when reflecting on her 14k run. “My Aunt has breast cancer and it runs in my family; so, supporting those who are affected by it, either friends or family, is very important to me. I am grateful for this experience and can’t wait to do it again!” Kimberly Commisso, who also ran the 14km with her roommate Ilana, comments: “3 years ago one of my best friends’ mom, Lili Vazquez, lost her battle with breast cancer. She was truly an amazing person who genuinely cared and strived to help everyone around her. I ran for her, and for everyone like her… It was amazing to see the massive amount of people who, like me, supported this cause. Every time I thought about stopping to take a break I would look around me at the other runners who weren’t giving up, and how those fighting cancer don’t have the option of pausing.”