An initiative is being developed at the Moaña marina that combines sport, inclusion and culture: the Translatio Project. Promoted by the Sociedade Deportiva Tirán, this project uses rowing not only as a tool for social integration, but also as a way for the physical and mental recovery of women affected by breast cancer.Now, these women have their sights set on a new and ambitious challenge: to make their way along the emblematic Jacobean Route in its maritime variant, known as “Traslatio”.
From inclusion to improvement
The Proxecto Traslatio has its roots in 2022, when the Sociedade Deportiva Tirán launched the program “Embarca na Aventura de Vivir”an initiative funded by the La Caixa Foundation that offered inclusive rowing workshops for people with reduced mobility and diverse abilities. Over the course of six months, 250 people from various organisations such as Adicam, Emmo, Down Vigo and Discamino joined this adventure, using rowing in a traiñeira as a means of social integration and personal development.
The success of this first edition laid the foundations for the creation of an Inclusive Rowing School in MoañaWith the collaboration of the Association of People Affected by Breast and Gynecological Cancer of Galicia (ADICAM), this project has become a platform of support, recovery and empowerment for many women who had never rowed before. The Galician seafaring tradition, represented by the traiñeira, has not only served as a cultural symbol, but also as a powerful tool to improve the physical and mental health of its participants.
Today, Proxecto Traslatio has grown to include 28 women from different backgrounds and physical abilities, united by the common goal of improving their well-being (both physical and emotional) through rowing.
Preparing for adventure
The workouts, which take place twice a week, are divided into three key phases:
- 1. Land exercises: Gym routines designed to strengthen muscles and improve overall fitness.
- 2. Pit Practice: A controlled environment where rowing conditions at sea are simulated, helping participants develop their technical skills and endurance.
- 3. Sessions at sea: This is where the rowers experience the real practice of rowing, either in the school boat for the new members or in the traiñeira for the more advanced.
This training structure has proven to be especially beneficial for women affected by breast cancer, helping them in their physical recovery process by improving mobility, reducing fatigue and relieving muscle pain, all within a supportive and companionate environment.
The “Traslatio”, the challenge
The Translatio Project has taken on a new challenge: the maritime crossing that is part of the Camino de Santiago in its Portuguese variantKnown as the “Traslatio”, this route follows the legendary steps of the transfer of the remains of the Apostle Santiago by sea from Jaffa to Padrón. This modern and symbolic version of the Jacobean route not only represents a sporting challenge for the rowers, but also serves to give visibility to one of the lesser-known variants of the Camino de Santiago.
The crossing will consist of three days throughout September, provided sea conditions permit:
- Saturday 7th September, departure from the port of Grove at 9:00am, arriving in Vilagarcía at 1:00pm.
- Saturday 14th September, leaving Vilagarcía at 8:30am, going up the Ulla River to Pontecesures at 1:30pm.
- Sunday 15th September, a final walk of the Portuguese route that will culminate in Plaza del Obradoiro at 12:00h.
But if there is one thing we are clear about, it is that, on this occasion, the Traslatio is not just a journey: it is a challenge that seeks the physical recovery of the fighters but also their psychological well-being, reinforcing the self-esteem and mood of the rowers..
Furthermore, this initiative will help raise public awareness of breast cancer and demonstrate that it is possible to overcome the challenges associated with this disease through sport and community support.
The Proxecto Traslatio has become a powerful example of how sport can be a tool for recovery, integration and empowerment. Through rowing, these women are not only strengthening their body and mind, but they are also preserving a centuries-old Galician tradition.
