Cancer fighters begin 10-day cycling trip around Taiwan

Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) Fifty cancer survivors and their family members from home and overseas set off Sunday from Taipei's Mackay Memorial Hospital on a 10-day, 1,100-kilometer cycling journey around Taiwan, demonstrating resilience and hope in the face of adversity.

The annual round-island ride, now in its 13th year, brought together participants aged 40 to 84, representing three generations of cancer warriors and their loved ones.

Despite the drizzling rain, the cyclists pedaled off with determination to show that life after cancer can be active and meaningful.

At the flag-off ceremony, Taiwanese Anti-Cancer Association Chairman Huang Wen-chieh (黃文傑) said public education about cancer should begin with awareness and understanding.

He noted the association is committed to providing resources and emotional support to patients and their families while promoting public engagement in cancer care.

Huang added that the recovery period after treatment is especially critical. Maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise not only strengthens the body but also improves mental well-being, helping survivors rediscover joy and hope, he said.

Mackay Memorial Hospital Superintendent Chang Wen-han (張文瀚) praised the riders' resilience, saying their spirit demonstrates that true strength lies not in being unscarred, but in pressing forward despite the scars.

The 10-day journey will see more than 300 volunteers from across Taiwan join the cyclists at different legs, supporting their message of perseverance and hope.

Wu Hsing-chuan (吳興傳), a stage-three colorectal cancer survivor who launched the event in 2011, said he hopes all cancer survivors make exercise a part of daily life, noting that regular physical activity can help prevent cancer and reduce the need for medical visits.

Wu, a former running coach, said he believes exercise boosts immunity, reflecting on his own 16-year survival since cancer.