RIDERS CALL FOR EARLY DETECTION OF CANCER
Pink knights to end week-long awareness ride in Capital today ‘Screening key to raise public awareness’
Women inspiring women (and men) to be in the pink of health were welcomed like rockstars as they made their way from HCT-RAK Women’s College to the RAK Corniche during the penultimate ride of the Pink Caravan on Thursday. The Pink Knights covered a total distance of 14.4km across Ras Al Khaimah as residents lined up on the streets to cheer for them and hold high the Pink Caravan Ride (PCR) flags. The residents also interacted with the riders who brought the home the message of conducting early detection of cancer.
Prior to the RAK leg, the caravan has already registered a total of 4,579, including 761 (692 women and 69 men) on Wednesday in Fujairah, where the pink brigade embarked on a 19.6km journey covering Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and Dibba Al Hisn. Scores of children also joined the Pink riders in Fujairah.
Reem BinKaram, head of PCR’s Higher Steering Committee, said: “PCR is about bringing the whole community of the UAE together to champion our cause of raising awareness about breast cancer, and the importance of regular screening to prevent the curable disease in its tracks.
“The riders had the pleasure of trekking with little children who got introduced to Pink Caravan and learned its objectives and mission,” noted BinKaram, adding: “By involving the young generation at an early age, we build a nation aware of breast cancer, and the importance of screening to prevent the disease.”
The riders also switched roles with the horse grooms on Wednesday. Naeem Mujhal was surprised when the pink brigade stopped and dismounted.
“They gave us the helmets and told us to saddle up and continue to the next destination. I was overwhelmed and extremely happy when I saw the rider control the horse while I waived and saluted residents who were lined up on the streets cheering us,” said the 31-year-old Pakistani expat.
The Pink Caravan Ride will conclude its nationwide journey today in Abu Dhabi, starting from the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and ending at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Educating people about the importance of early detection and screening is the most effective way to raise awareness against breast cancer.
This was given emphasis by Akbar Thumbay, vice-president of healthcare division, Thumbay Group. “The free medical screenings offered by the Pink Caravan Ride (PCR) in the course of its journey is a proactive way to inspire the public to take that allimportant first step towards safeguarding themselves.”
Dr Sadir Al Rawi, director of surgical oncology service education at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, added: “Early screening is one of the important factors in decreasing the incidence of cancer and improvement of a patient’s survival.
“Usually we start screening by the age of 40 or lower if the patient has a family history of breast cancer or has detected a lump in the breast,” he added.
In the UAE, survivors have underlined the support they received from the Pink Caravan and Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), who provided them with the financial and moral support to win their battle against cancer.
According to FoCP, Nawal, who has beaten cancer twice, said: “It was not easy for me to accept at first but the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer in 1999 gave me a better chance of effective treatment and led to my full recovery.”
Usually we start screening by the age of 40 or lower if the patient has a family history of breast cancer or has detected a lump in the breast.” Dr Sadir Al Rawi, director of surgical oncology service education at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai