The Rose Trip is an adventure trek which gives opportunities to trios of women to explore distant regions of three different countries. In May 2025, three women from the Valley will be participating in one of these adventures – in Cape-Verde, off the coast of Senegal.
Caroline Rivest, Priscilla Gibeault, and Samantha Goldie have started preparing for their trip and are excited for the adventure that awaits them. This experience has been offered multiple times in Morocco and Senegal; however, this is the first time it’s being offered in Cape-Verde. All groups on these trips are made up entirely of women and are organized as a way to raise awareness for breast cancer. Goldie explains, “There’s over 100 women on this adventure. It’s really to be united and together and work towards something so important.”
The journey will take place over five days and cover many kilometres. The Rose Trip website explains: “Equipped with a compass, a topographic protractor, a map, and a good pair of hiking shoes, the women tread the great natural spaces.” Goldie shares that so far, her team of coworkers is “really creating a bond,” and adds, “We have to get to where we’re going by working together and really using each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
The team has been raising funds to help finance their experience. Their name is “Les Brasières,” meaning “The Bras,” which inspired them to also sell sports bras with their logo on them as well as sports tops. Goldie says, “We have our team number on it, and the logo really represents us: the three girls for breast cancer awareness.” They are also seeking sponsorships from companies.
An exciting part about this being the first edition of this particular trek is that it means everyone will be experiencing it with fresh eyes. “We’re not only going to live this personally for the first time, but it’s this organization’s first time doing this too,” Goldie says. Though the team has seen pictures and heard stories from the other destinations, there was no question for them that it would be Cape-Verde. The white-sand beaches and scenery were impossible to pass up.
Each member of the team also has a personal reason for embarking on this trip. “If I speak on my behalf, cancer has been something in my family that I’ve had to live with. Not necessarily breast cancer, but my mom passed away in 2003 with cancer. So, I’m doing it for me, but I’m also doing it for my mom,” Goldie explains.
Raising awareness will hopefully help many people and families, and Goldie says she hopes to spark more conversations. “There is more and more breast cancer; the faster that we are aware of it, the signs of it, and what can come from it, the faster we can catch and cure it.” She knows the implications of this horrible disease: “Having lost a parent at such a young age and having to live my life without my mother figure, I don’t want other people to go through that.” She says she hopes that the more awareness there is, the more time people will be able to spend with their loved ones.
To keep up to date with the team, follow along on the Facebook page, Les Brassières. To donate, reach out on the page or directly to a team member.