Sharjah - The Pink Caravan is a pan-UAE awareness initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients, FoCP, and aims to enhance community awareness about breast cancer.
Published: Wed 9 Mar 2016, 5:08 PM
Last updated: Wed 9 Mar 2016, 7:13 PM
The sixth edition of The Pink Caravan Ride arrived yesterday (Tuesday) at Masafi Hospital in Fujairah on its second day of its horseback ride. It's spreading the message of awareness and hope, and continues until March 17, with the slogan "Soldiers if Pink Hope".
The Pink Caravan is a pan-UAE awareness initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients, FoCP, and aims to enhance community awareness about breast cancer and the importance of its early detection, as well as it offers free breast cancer screenings across the UAE.
The Pink Caravan Ride receives the generous patronage and support of His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the close follow-up of his wife, Her Highness Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, 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.
The riders of The Pink Caravan travelled 21.5 km, starting their journey from Al Dhaid Hospital through Kalba and Dibba Al Fujairah before they arrived at Massafi Hospital where free breast cancer detection screenings were given to 532 persons.
The ride made several stops to promote their awareness message of breast cancer awareness and the benefits of its early detection. Additionally, to conduct the fee medical checkups for the locals. One of their stops was the Friday Market in Fujairah.
The mobile mammography clinic at Kalba Hospital, and the two fixed clinics at Dibba Al Fujairah and Massafi Hospitals and overwhelming response from all segments, men and women from all nationalities. Demographical analysis of screened people in the second day, shows that 532 were medically examined, cut down into 476 women and 56 men, of whom 321 UAE nationals, and 221 residents, and out of the 532 people examined on the second day, 295 of them were under the age of 40. Together with the first day number of examined people, 532, in Al Dheid and Sharjah, total number of screened people in the first two days, is 1073 people.
The fixed medical booth at Al Majaz Waterfront continued to welcome people on its second day. The clinic is open daily from 4pm-10pm throughout the 10-day horseback ride, and offers free screening and awareness against breast cancer.
During the second day ride, former trainer Jacqueline Doyle from the UK, a volunteer who helps in the coordination and equipping the horses before each ride, expressed her delightfulness of joining the Pink Caravan initiative.
Doyle added: "I am expressing an interest in becoming involved in the Pink Caravan Ride, because I have friends who have been unfortunate enough to have breast cancer, one of which is only alive today, because of her early detection of the disease".
Jacqueline emphasized "early detection saves lives" and continued that she strives alongside the Pink Caravan to promote awareness about breast cancer and encourage all segments of society to undergo free early detection screenings offered by the Pink Caravan's clinics.
Jacqueline Doyle is the mother of James and Sophie Doyle. James joined Godolphin as a retained jockey in January 2015 and is first choice rider for the international trainer Saeed bin Suroor. Godolphin is the global thoroughbred breeding and horseracing stable founded by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. Sophie is a prominent jockey in Kentucky state, USA.
In the same context, Mariam Al Shehhi, Head of Customer Service Section at Massafi Hospital in Fujairah, said, "The Pink Caravan is a health awareness initiative, and yet a national and community initiative that serves both Emirati citizens and expatriate residents in our beloved country. Over the past five years, it managed to contribute significantly to creating a healthy community and environment that supports public health and fights breast cancer."
She added: "During the last two years, we witnessed a huge turnout by all segments of society, men and women, Emiratis and expatriates, who underwent breast cancer examinations. This reflects the great role played by the Pink Caravan's medical and awareness teams through the various awareness activities and events, and signifies that it managed to bring about a unique shift in dealing with breast cancer."
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, constituting 16% of female cancers. About 1.1 million women across the world are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, 410,000 of which die of cancer. However, breast cancer is highly treatable and completely curable if it is detected in the early stages, as 98% of early detected breast cancer cases can be treated and completely cured.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
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