Kilimanjaro climbers honoured by Oman Cancer Association
MADIHA ASIF madiha@timesofoman.com
MUSCAT: The Oman Cancer Association (OCA) recently honoured 20 volunteers who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, in a bid to raise awareness about cancer.
The purpose of the climb was to spread information about the dangers of physical inactivity, which is currently one of the leading causes of cancer, as well as to raise funds for the operation of the Mobile Mammography Unit (MMU).
“Last year, we had one person, and this year we had 20,” said Dr. Wahid Al Kharusi, President of the OCA. “Multiply that by another 20 and I hope we will have 400 climbers from Oman representing the Oman Cancer Association in the coming years.” The event was held at the Kempinski Hotel Muscat, under the patronage of Sheikh Dr. Ali bin Talib Al Hinai, the Undersecretary for Health and Planning at the Ministry of Health. Juzer Kurban Husain, one of the volunteer climbers and a cancer survivor, said exercise and physical activity played a big role in his recovery from cancer.
Juzer, who was instructed by his doctor to bring a nebuliser during the trip, was halfway up the mountain when he was forced to withdraw from the challenge, as the lack of electricity in an office at one of the stops meant he could not use his nebuliser.
“He was very emotional about the fact that he couldn’t climb the mountain and, in fact, kept insisting that he would go all the way to the top,” said Nasser Al Azri, the leader of the team that climbed the mountain. “To us, he is a fighter and a hero. His determination motivated us to complete this challenge.”