Catalonia has gone one step further in terms of social and solidarity response in the 32nd edition of the Marató, dedicated to sexual and reproductive health. This 2023, the figures have taken a backseat, although the collection has once again been in the millions and will grow exponentially in the coming days, to raise awareness among the population and break down taboos of diseases that affect three million Catalansand whose diagnoses add 200,000 new cases each year.
It is the first time in history that the focus is placed on a so stigmatized topic how is the sexual and reproductive health. And also, the first edition in which the chain has had difficulties finding testimonies who want to personally explain their case due to the number of taboos that still exist. Despite the large number of people who suffer from this type of illness, remains reserved for invisibility, And, very few patients dare to talk openly about it.
It has been the edition most feminine and youthful to date, since these diagnoses are mainly suffered by women and the population between 15 and 25 years old. The endometriosisinfections of sexual transmission, the menopausethe infertility and breast, cervical or prostate cancers are some of the pathologies that have been addressed in the Marathon. Elisenda Carod, Helena Garcia Melero and Alba Riera have started the presentation of an edition that not only addresses diseases related to sexual health or the difficulty of being a mother, but also wants vindicate gender expression or warn against misinformation that exists about menstruation and menopause.
The testimonies of the Marathon
To break down taboos, they have relied on figures such as Judith Antequera, who had to stop presenting the news program ‘3/24’ due to the severe pain caused by endometriosis; Mayka Navarro, that has moved the public by explaining the hormonal and psychological therapy that she had to continue trying to be a mother; Xanthal Llavina, which has illustrated the complicated treatment of breast cancer; Ona Carbonell, that she had to prepare for the Olympic Games in the middle of the postpartum period; or the actresses Vicky Luengo and Georgina Latrewho have reported their cases of obstetric violence to help women who are going through similar situations.
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The Marató has had to reinvent itself after a few years in which the fundraising trend has been downward. Since 2018 achieved a historical record of 15 million euros in an edition dedicated to cancer, the numbers have been decreasing. And to reverse it, they wanted to connect with the new generations ‘Espai Jove’ stage premiered‘, in which groups and artists such as The Tyets, Mushkaa, Figa Flawas, Julieta and DJ Trapella have appeared. They have also broadcast the program for the first time on the ‘streaming’ Twitchwith exclusive and unpublished content and witnesses and specialists who have spoken about the sexual and reproductive health issues that most affect young people.
Music has once again been one of the main attractions of the edition, with performances by artists such as Chanel, Belén Aguilera, Stay Homas, Nil Moliner, Joan Dausà or Estopa which presented his first original song in Catalan. But also, football has had its space in the Marató with a match at the Cupra Arena between two Kings League teams, Rayo Barcelona and Jijantes. Among other initiatives, personalities such as Barça goalkeeper, Sandra Paños, have gotten involved in the cause. The goalkeeper has raffled off her shirt among those who made donations, reaching an amount of more than 1,000 euros.