The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the Pañoleta Foundation held a tree planting day called “October, Month of Reforestation and against Breast Cancer”, with the participation of survivors of the disease, which took place on Ecological Avenue, in Santo Domingo East.
The Vice-Minister of Forestry Resources, José Elías González, headed the event, which was part of the National Plan for Reforestation and Restoration of Forest Ecosystems 2023-2024 and in which seedlings of mahogany, olive tree and guayacán were used.
González thanked the members of the Pañoleta Foundation for giving a testimony of faith and hope with their lives and actions, after considering that it is not easy to motivate others when one’s life is affected by an illness.
He said that accompaniment is fundamental. “We place ourselves at your disposal at the national level”, assured the official, to then specify that “we are open doors, transparent and unconditional public servants for you”.
Rossy Liriano, president of the Pañoleta Foundation, stated that the initiative of emotional support for cancer patients and survivors was created on October 18, 2012 based on two values: hope and gratitude.
She indicated that October is a month to give thanks and that an excellent way to do so is precisely by giving life back to the earth, which is why they decided to celebrate their 11 years of social work by embracing the fight against breast cancer and “being grateful for what we have received.”
Águeda Suárez, director of Human Resources of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, who was present at the event, said that breast cancer survivors give a clear message about the importance of giving thanks at all times.
During the activity, which was attended by Elías Figuereo, director of Reforestation, and Dayerlin Torres, director of Environmental Education. Some of the members of the Pañoleta Foundation gave testimonies about how cancer affected their rhythm of life and how they managed to recover and move forward.
Source: presidencia.gov.do
