Dubai wears the pink
message on its sleeve

As the most extensive Breast Cancer Awareness Programme in the Middle East, the Safe and Sound campaign’s year-long initiative garners most of its support through their annual non-competitive charity walkathon aimed at raising both awareness and funds for breast cancer. A sea of more than 8,000 participants moved in unison along the Bur Dubai area for the 3.6km walk, including many families pushing pink-clad babies in matching pink strollers.

Aside from the T-shirts and hot pink caps distributed upon registration, most participants embraced the symbolism of the colour pink in their fashion choices to highlight the cohesive goal of the campaign.

Twenty-six-year-old Karim ElBadawi stood out at the event’s post-walk festivities in a pink kandoora. “We all know that breast cancer awareness and pink go together. Wearing pink for this cause is empowering, and as a man, it makes an even stronger statement,” he told Khaleej Times. Having lost his aunt to breast cancer, his family has been thinking pink for years, with everyone from his two year-old son to his grandmother dressed strikingly in pink. “I don’t care if I look weird. It’s about standing out because I care about the issue,” he added.

Extending from the importance of the globally recognised the looped pink ribbon, the colour pink has long-symbolised the fight against breast cancer. “The Pink Walkathon serves as a visual reminder of what the whole campaign is about — being proactive, supportive and spreading the message that early detection can save lives,” Sabina Khandwani, spokesperson of the Safe and Sound campaign and Head of PR and Marketing at BurJuman Centre, said.

A group of young women from the University of Sharjah rallied for support after the walk, wearing eye-catching pink headscarves, matched by cameras, cellphones and shoes in blinding hot pink. “All of us know someone who has had breast cancer, which is why we banded together in our university on behalf of the Safe and Sound Campaign,” one of the students, Rajaa Amin, said. The group sold the walkathon T-shirts for the campaign weeks in advance, initiating a “Pink Day” at their university. “This is the first year we’re participating, so we really want to make a difference,” another student, Noon ElAmin, added.

Andrea Mirasol Fernandez was one of the hundreds to have donated a ribbon on the ribbon tree in remembrance of a loved one lost to breast cancer. “The walk was tiring, the weather hot as always, but it doesn’t matter because I did for my best friend, Lyn, who passed away last November. This is for all those women who battled with the disease—suffering or surviving breast cancer,” she said.

As with the previous years, the event featured many performances that engaged all ages, such as the after-walk live jazz performance, an arts-and-crafts corner, magicians, balloon-benders, face-painting booths and an assortment of accessories and clothes at the Pink Bazaar. In addition, Rob Idol, a Robbie Williams tribute artist, performed exclusively at the mall in a post-walk concert.

news@khaleejtimes.com