By Aurora Santangelo, Syracuse University
On September 27, 2026, bright pink shirts flooded the streets of Florence, an unstoppable force on a dedicated march to raise money for victims of breast cancer. Over 44,000 people from all over Italy participated in Corri la Vita wearing cyclamen-pink t-shirts, including some our own Syracuse Florence students through the I-Engage program.
Every year, thousands of students, families, children, and even dogs, participate in this fundraising event that began in 2003 by Benoda Frescobaldi to support women affected by breast cancer and fund initiatives related to prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. Over the past 22 years more than 580,000 people have taken part and raised €10.2 million euros. Participants receive a Ferragamo-designed t-shirt (this year the color was cyclamen pink) by donating at least €10. The fashion company was built in Florence by Salvatore Ferragamo, the “Shoemaker to the Stars” famous for having designed stiletto heels for Marilyn Monroe, and the company is a longtime partner of the yearly charity event. Ferragamo himself died of cancer in 1960, and his daughter, Fiamma, of breast cancer in 1998.
Corri la Vita traditionally has two routes—one 6.2 km long and the other 11 km long—that lead all over Florence, and participants can choose to walk or run. This year, the race began at the Parco delle Cascine and finished at Piazza della Signoria. That day, pink t-shirt wearers were given free access to 68 major cultural destinations in and around the city, including the exclusive chance to discover places normally closed to the public. Highlights included the show BROKEN at Palazzo Strozzi, the Museum of Restoration with the Palazzo Ridolfi Chapel, the Accademia dei Georgofili agricultural museum, and the show OPEN at Palazzo Buontalenti. Prizes were also awarded to the top three race finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories.
Syracuse Florence students have been participating in Corri la Vita since 2007. “For our students, it’s a way to experience Florence from the inside, the way Florentines do, while supporting a cause that matters,” said Internships and Engagement Liaison Olimpia Bozza. She said that participating in the event means truly being part of the Florence experience, as those who join come away with a special memory of the city.
Corri la Vita is a shining example of how Syracuse Florence students can engage with the city of Florence, immersing themselves in the local culture while participating in meaningful volunteer work.