Pink riders all set for cancer fight

Pink Caravan Ride will kick off from Sharjah on March 7 and will conclude in Abu Dhabi on March 17.

Cancer charity, Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) has announced its breast cancer awareness campaign Pink Caravan Ride for the year.
Shaikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Royal Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients, FoCP, International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC, has set March 7 as the official launch date for the public awareness campaign.
The Pink Caravan Ride 2016 will kick off from Sharjah on March 7, travel across all seven emirates, and concludes in Abu Dhabi on March 17.
During the 10-day ride, over 100 horseback riders, medical teams and volunteers offer free breast cancer screenings to all community members, and raise breast cancer awareness through distribution of brochures and organising lectures and workshops on how to perform self-examination, methods of dealing with the disease and to provide support to patients.
Lauding the achievements of Pink Caravan over the past five years, Shaikha Jawaher said: "The Pink Caravan Ride will continue as long as the challenge imposed by breast cancer exists...We do not want any Emiratis or residents living in the UAE to suffer from the physical and psychological pains caused by breast cancer. We neither want any family to suffer from the painful, grave effects caused by all types of cancer that are curable, treatable and survivable if detected early."
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Amira bin Karam, president of the Board of Trustees, founding member of FoCP and chairperson of the higher steering committee of the Pink Caravan Ride, said, "Every year we try to increase the scope and outreach of the ride to increase awareness and provide services to an increasing number of UAE residents. Our qualified medical teams dedicate as much time as possible to each person with an overall aim of ensuring they understand breast cancer methods and how best to protect themselves from the disease."
Launched in 2011 by FoCP on its 10th anniversary to further the work of the FoCP, it seeks to dispel misconceptions surrounding breast cancer and early detection, while offering free breast cancer examinations to all across the country, both Emiratis and expatriates. It also aims to unify efforts to fight breast cancer and promote the culture of voluntarism and charitable work.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting women with approximately 1.1 million women across the world diagnosed with breast cancer every year. If found in the early stages, 98% of women can be completely cured.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah