Pink October: boating association sets sail with breast cancer patients
A fleet of traditional Mediterranean fishing boats will carry breast cancer patients and their families across the waters off Six-Fours-les-Plages on October 7, offering a moment of respite as part of Octobre Rose, France's annual breast cancer awareness month.
The coastal commune in the Var department, home to approximately 37,000 residents near Toulon, has organized the therapeutic sailing experience through Lou Capian, an association dedicated to preserving traditional pointu boats. Some 60 passengers will participate in the event, which forms part of a broader municipal campaign addressing a disease that affects nearly 60,000 French women annually and claims 12,000 lives each year.
"The event allows for time spent together in a different setting. It gives a breath of fresh air," said Didier Sophin, president of Lou Capian. "We pick them up in the morning, then go out on the pointus for about an hour and a half around the Île des Embiez."
Traditional boats with cultural significance
The pointu, a traditional fishing vessel named for its distinctive pointed shape, holds special significance in Provençal culture. First built in Marseille in the late 19th century, these wooden boats are now recognized as part of France's Intangible Cultural Heritage. For the October 7 event, approximately 13 association members will decorate their vessels with pink flags while participants wear pink accessories.
Growing importance of breast cancer awareness
Octobre Rose, which began as a week-long campaign organized by the American Cancer Society in 1985, arrived in France in October 1994 through an initiative by Estée Lauder France and Marie Claire magazine. The awareness month has grown increasingly important as France now records the second-highest breast cancer incidence rate in Europe, with approximately 169.7 cases per 100,000 population.
Comprehensive community support program
The sailing experience represents one element of Six-Fours-les-Plages' comprehensive October programme. Since 2021, the mairie has partnered with cancer charities to organize free events ranging from horseriding to skydiving throughout the month.
"For the boating experience, patients are invited by the charities and they can also be accompanied by their carers – family members, children, parents – so they can leave dry land behind and feel a little lighter out at sea," explained Béatrice Métayer, public health policy officer at the Six-Fours-les-Plages mairie. "It is important for us to highlight the role of the carers, which is crucial but often overlooked."
Screening and early detection efforts
The municipality also works with local healthcare providers to organize cancer screenings and mobile mammography sessions in a Mammobus for the public. These efforts support France's national organized breast cancer screening program, which invites women aged 50 to 74 to undergo screening mammograms every two years, targeting nearly 10 million women across the country. Early detection significantly improves outcomes, with five-year survival rates reaching approximately 99 percent when breast cancer is caught early.
Community fundraising and volunteer support
Fundraising forms another key component of the campaign. "We also fundraise during the month, with the money being donated to CapSein, La P'tite Parenthèse, and La Ligue Contre le Cancer. Last year we raised €10,000," said Métayer.
"We are delighted to see such a great sense of solidarity, especially as everything is done free of charge – the service providers come along as volunteers," she added.
Events will launch on October 1, with further details available at ville-six-fours.fr. Visitors to Six-Fours-les-Plages can admire the colourful pointus docked at Le Brusc harbour throughout the year. The combined marina and fishing port also serves as the boarding point for Île des Embiez. More information about the boats can be found at loucapian.com.
