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Elizabeth Martínez, a professional motorsport in El Salvador, in addition to challenging the curves of the racetrack, has faced a greater challenge: accompanying her sister in her fight against breast cancer. This is his story.
For this, ‘Eli’ – as his close friends call him – decided to wear the pink symbol, an icon of the fight against breast cancer in his competitions.
“I say: ‘someone who sees this has to move him’. Even if it is a minority that can change their thinking, they have to be aware of their body and their life, “said the pilot.
‘Eli’ tells France 24 that, despite the difficulties of the treatment, his sister won the battle against cancer, something that has made him commit even more to the cause and, whether or not he wins a place in the competitions, he always takes advantage of the occasion to give a message about the prevention of the disease.
“When I get off the podium and start walking to go to my pits, everyone says ‘thank you Elizabeth, thank you for the message’, because they are not expecting it,” he says.
Among multiple trophies, ‘Eli’ is proud of her more than eight-year career, many of which she was the only woman in national motorsport. However, for her this merit does not compare with the worth of the women who fight daily against breast cancer.
Off the slopes, his activism is also recognized. As an outstanding athlete, she is invited to radio and television programs where she does not miss the opportunity to recommend self-examination as the first measure to detect any abnormality. “Perhaps through me, many people will live, they will prevent and they will win the battle against cancer,” added the activist.
Similarly, Elizabeth Martínez decided to donate her hair to be used in wigs for women who are receiving chemotherapy. This gesture, which he performs for the third time, he shared live on his social networks as a way to encourage other people to do the same.
According to figures from the National Institute of Health of El Salvador, breast cancer is the one with the highest incidence in the country with 16.4% of all cancers and a rate of 40.5 cases per 100,000 women in the last year.
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