‘Strand of Hope’ on occasion of ‘Pink October’
Foundation of Hope organizes awareness event
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 20: Under the slogan “Khoslat Amal” – the “Strand of Hope” and in cooperation with Quttainah Medical Center along with the participation of Al-Sidra Center, the Foundation of Hope organized an awareness event on the occasion of “Pink October” to donate hair to breast cancer patients.
Dr Maha Al-Hashash, a goodwill ambassador, International Justice and Peace Advisor and a Belgian Cultural Exchange said “donating hair is purely a humane act that brings happiness to patients. This is considered a participatory compensatory touch, due to the use of chemical drugs and other treatments, which causes hair loss, where hair is considered precious to women.” Al-Hashash thanked Quttainah Medical Center for organizing this event because of its positive psychological impact it has on patients.
Sheikha Haya Ali Salem Al-Sabah, a member of the Board of Directors of Al-Sidra Center for Psychological Care of Cancer Patients, highlighted that she represents the Foundation of Hope association with this initiative for helping cancer patients indicating that Al-Sidra Center for Psychological Care of Cancer Patients was announced in year 2012 and began its actual work in 2013. Its activities include free Psychiatric treatment and diagnistic treatment for residents who cannot afford treatments and includes various therapeutic and diagnostic radiology. She added by saying that AlSidra Center for Psychological Care of Cancer Patients is a member of the Arab Union for Support of Cancer Patients in the Arab States and a member of the Gulf Cancer Union. She is proud that the president of Al-Sidra Center, Sheikha Azza Jaber Al-Ali, has been selected as the honorary president of the Arab Union for support of Cancer Patients for 2019.
Al-Sidra welcomes working with any association inside or outside Kuwait that supports cancer patients.
The Foundation of Hope, in cooperation with Quttainah Medical Center and the participation of Al-Sidra Center, organized a hair donation event for breast cancer patients on the occasion of Pink October – Breast Cancer Awareness. The event started with a set of activities imparted by the presenter and host Sudaba Ali, who said “The month of October is a special month called the Pink Month, where the world wears Pink! This disease, which affects more than two million women around the world every year, is the most common cause of cancer death amongst women.” The event is part of the community’s charitable efforts to raise awareness among women about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and to motivate them to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Sudaba Ali pointed out that during the event, the door will be open for hair donation to support cancer patients and survivors of this disease whom lost their hair during treatment as a way to enhance their self confidence. Special thanks was also given to ‘The Friends of Cancer Patients Society’ in Dubai for putting effort in turning the hair strands into wigs.
For her part, Hanan Al-Khaldi, twice cured from cancer spoke: “God gave me a longer lifetime and I thank God for giving me the chance to communicate with the society through social media and talk to people about my experience with this disease and today at Quttainah Medical Center during this wonderful event that will surely benefit the patients.”
Director of Administrative Development at Quttainah Medical Center, Mohammad Adnan said, “This event is a ‘pause of hope’ and hair donation is for those who are suffering from hair loss, of our daughters, sisters and mothers as a result of exposure to breast cancer and treatment. We tell them that we are here, we support them and this small gesture confirms our support.”
A donor, Nora Adel Quttainah, donated hair to cancer patients. She expressed her happiness for her role and said, “I feel very comfortable after donating a strand of my hair and I feel that I shared the patients in their fight; I also try to imagine how happy the patient will be when she sees what this strand of hair will become and how they will use it in the future.”
Christine Quttainah, on behalf of Dr Adel Quttainah, welcomes the attendees and stressed the importance of providing support to cancer patients and motivating them to combat the disease.
Elsie Quttainah, member of the ‘Foundation of Hope’, praised the community’s cooperation to combat the disease, raising awareness, as well as extending a helping hand to patients to help hem overcome this ordeal.
Following the donations, participants and volunteers were honored where the majority were young girls. Attendees praised the effectiveness and the well organized event that was planned by unknown ‘Supporters’ led by Abeer Jassim.