Hunan Holds Long-Distance-Running Charity Event for Women's Health

President of the Hunan Women's Federation Du Yaling delivers a speech at a long-distance running event held in Xiangtan, a city in south China's Hunan Province, on March 10, 2015 to welcome the arrival of annually held International Women's Day and further help raise public awareness for breast and cervical cancer. [Hunan Women's Federation/Huang Yun]

Women from all walks of life across the city of Xiangtan, in south China's Hunan Province, were brought together by the Hunan Women's Federation, the Xiangtan Women's Federation and the Xiangtan Municipal Bureau of Sports along with local business entities to take part in a locally held long-distance running event on March 10, 2015, to welcome the arrival of the annually held International Women's Day — on March 8 — and to further help raise public awareness for breast and cervical cancer among women.

At the charity event, medical experts from the Xiangtan Municipal Hospital of Maternal and Children's Health worked with local volunteers to distribute to attendees publications on breast cancer and cervical cancer, and spoke with them about how to protect themselves from these illnesses. Meanwhile, attendees signed their names on a public pledge, confirming their commitment to using the scientific knowledge and resources around them to lead a healthy lifestyle, engaging in more physical exercise and making sure to go for regularly scheduled medical check-ups.

Meanwhile, participants also put their talents on display through performances of Taiji fan — a unique bodybuilding martial arts exercise blending the movements of Taiji boxing and other martial arts and dances — Taiji softball, aerobic gymnastics and other activities, all of which are conducive to maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle.

To familiarize local women with knowledge about breast and cervical cancer and to help them fight against these diseases, local women's federations have worked with health bureaus over the past several years to distribute 40,000 copies of brochures on women's health, to hold 42 relevant training sessions and medical check-ups, and to extend financial assistance to local underprivileged women affected by breast and cervical cancer.

Those in attendance at the charity event included Du Yaling, president of the Hunan Women's Federation; Xü Yajian, vice director of the Xiangtan Municipal People's Congress; Su Jianquan, deputy mayor of the Xiangtan Municipal People's Government; Zhou Shaoguang, vice chairperson of the Xiangtan Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference; and officials from other governmental bodies.

(Provided by the Hunan Women's Federation/Huang Yun)