In the two years since the Mimosa Committee was set up, the charity has raised in excess of an astonishing €100,000 towards the fight against cancer in the Alpes Maritimes.

On November 8th, 2015, their motto “Life, a race worth running for”, will be echoing along the scenic Nice-Cannes Marathon course and inspiring more than 100 runners as they take part in the race on behalf of Mimosa, many of them in relay teams of six.  

The brainchild of Sara Parks, a member of the Committee who has been organising charity running teams in the Nice-Cannes Marathon for the last four years, and Juliette Clarkin, also a member, the Mimosa runners are aiming to raise a further €10,000 to add to their impressive total so far.

Along with the assistance of the remaining six members of the Mimosa Committee; Ellie Goblet D’Alviella, Anissa Perkins, Marilen Kenington, Emma Nyman, Sophie James and Gemma Bishop, they rallied friends and acquaintances across the Côte d’Azur to sign up for the cause and create a sea of Mimosa yellow shirts running together along the stunning coast line to help raise awareness of cancer.

Founded in 2013 by the eight ex-pat women above, who wanted to give back to their adopted local community, every member has been touched by cancer in some way and they seized the opportunity to pool their collective talents and work together to raise funds for La Ligue Contre le Cancer 06.

The last two years have seen two wonderful gala Mimosa Spring Balls - these two events alone raised over €100,000 and enabled the establishment of the new Espace Ligue in Antibes, which opens later this year. Espace Ligue is a non-medical restorative sanctuary open to all cancer sufferers offering support and the necessary tools to improve the care and quality of life during and after cancer treatment.

“The support and enthusiasm of not only the runners but everyone in the local community has been overwhelming,” says Sara Parks.

“It will be amazing to watch the sea of yellow Mimosa runners racing down the Mediterranean coast and raising awareness and ultimately supporting the fight against cancer. We support the fighters, admire the survivors and honour the taken, and we will never give up hope.

“There will be the fire in our bellies on the morning of the 8th November as we pound the road from Nice to Cannes.”

The Committee is already well on the way to raising their target of €10,000 thanks to generous support from local business sponsors on the Riviera.

Every member of the team is being offered coaching by Phil Jeremy, a personal trainer and ultra-marathon runner who is hosting the Mimosa Run Club in Sophia Antipolis three times a week.


The Antibes Natural Health Centre is offering discounted treatments and massages for each team member, while Leigh Bodin from Fit Nutrition is advising runners on food and diet plans for training. Entertainment supremo AV Riviera is the premier sponsor and, together with Blevins Franks, they are sponsoring the team T-shirt.

Amber Design has generously designed and funded the Mimosa wrist bands, which are being sold to raise extra funds for the cause, and Ma Nolan’s bar in Cannes has offered to host the “after party” for the team and their families following the race.

Adds Sara, “We would welcome support from anyone willing to help us achieve our target and we are certainly hoping to see lots of spectators cheering us on on the big day!”

You can support the effort by donating to the Alvarum page www.alvarum.com/mimosarunners or by buying one of the wrist bands being sold by Committee members and in various outlets around the Alpes Maritimes.

All monies raised by Mimosa from this event will be divided equally amongst the Espace Ligue in Antibes and to those who have been diagnosed with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene as well as breast cancer.