C re th W G re
RED balloons waved gently in the air amid a pensive but festive atmosphere, as hundreds stepped out on Sunday for the Orchid Walk in aid of the TRNC-based Cancer Research Fund (KAV).
Many walked in memory of friends and relatives lost to the disease — among those remembered was a well-known TRNC expat who helped create the now-annual fundraiser — as well as to support scientific work on ways to combat or prevent it.
Sponsorship and entry fees from participants from the UK and local walkers, including hordes bussed in from Lefkoşa, Girne, Güzelyurt, Lefke and Gazimağusa, has raised some 35,000TL towards ongoing research backed by the fund.
About 900 people — among them Labour and Social Security Minister Zeki Çeler and several MPs — chanted this year’s slogan, “No stepping back against cancer”, as they set out on a 9km route through woodland and across the mountain range from the village of Kozanköy to Karşıyaka.
After a short break for home-made refreshments at “Heaven’s Gate” above Karşıyaka, site of the KAV Memorial Forest, walkers wended their way to the finish point at Karşıyaka Primary School, where Turkish Cypriot cancer researcher Prof Mustafa Djamgöz addressed them about the importance of the effort. This was underlined by a minute’s silence for those who had died from cancer.
Festival-style activities continued with music, folk and modern dance shows, while Telsim Vodafone, event sponsors along with Play FM, staged a raffle with prizes of smartphones and iPads for three winners.
Cyprus Science University foundation year head Özkan İbrahimer, among a group of colleagues and students walking in memory of post-graduate student Gulzina Zhailoobaeva, who passed away from cancer last month, said: “We try to support social responsibility projects and this was a great event to which we wanted to contribute, while remembering Gul with her friends and teachers.
“It was a lovely day, and even though we were saddened by the loss of so many people’s loved ones . . . we walked until we got cramp and made the most of the festive occasion.”
KAV expressed delight at the success of the event and said the proceeds of entry ticket sales and additional donations would go towards a bursary fund for researchers currently investigating possible links between cancer and vitamin D deficiency, examining the contents of soil and produce, and carrying out “bio-technological studies” on breast cancer.
“Whatever we receive from our supporters, we return to the community, investing in researchers and cancer,” said KAV chairman Sevinç Miralay.
She added: “The Orchid Walk is held every year in memory of Maureen Hutchinson who organised the first walk but unfortunately passed away after losing her battle to cancer.
“This year it was attended by very enthusiastic supporters, from children and their parents to the elderly, who made the day as jolly as it could be.”
Health Minister Filiz Besim, who was unable to attend, expressed praise for KAV’s work, saying: “Every cancer-related