Go pink, ride against breast cancer
100 Pink Caravan horseback riders will spread awareness about importance of early detection of cancer
Campaign on breast cancer awareness to take place on March 7.
sharjah — Giving hope to cancer patients across the UAE, the sixth annual Pink Caravan will begin its pan-UAE horse-back ride to raise awareness about breast cancer on March 7. Under the theme “Soldiers of Pink Hope”, the 10-day horseback ride will be launched under the patronage of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
The Pink Caravan Ride, an initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), travels across all seven emirates with a team of medical professionals and horseback riders in order to promote awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and offer free breast cancer screenings.
The announcement came during a Press conference at the Executive Office of Shaikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and founder and Royal Patron of FoCP, International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for Interna- tional Cancer Control (UICC) and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC.
Addressing the media, Ameera BinKaram, President of Board of Trustees, founding member of FoCP and Chairperson of the Pink Caravan Ride’s Higher Organising Committee, said: “There will be more than 100 riders of mixed nationalities taking part in the ride, which will kick off from the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club and wrap up in Abu Dhabi.”
Mobile clinics will be open daily from 9am-7pm at specific locations in each emirate during the 10-day ride that will offer breast cancer detection examinations to thousands of women and men.
For the first time, there will also be a non-mobile clinic open in Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjah from 4-10pm throughout the ride.
BinKaram said: “This year our theme, ‘Soldiers of Pink Hope’ has a very special significance attached to it. Through this theme we express our gratitude to every person who has turned into a soldier, including the Pink Caravan riders, doctors, nurses, volunteers, sponsors, media representatives and the UAE’s citizens, residents, and visitors, and all those who cooperated with the medical teams and underwent testing to support and spread the Pink Caravan’s mission in their communities. You are our soldiers of pink hope.”
In a video message, Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, Director-General of FoCP and Head of the Pink Caravan Medical and Awareness Committee, said, “This year’s ride will witness the launch of our strategic partnership with the Princess Grace Hospital in the United Kingdom, one of the most important multidisciplinary and best equipped hospitals in London. The hospital, which has a team of highly qualified doctors and surgeons, will send a consultant radiologist to join us on the ride who will read the preliminary results of mammograms.”
Through this theme (Soldiers of Pink Hope) we express our gratitude to every person who has turned into a soldier, including the Pink Caravan riders.
Ameera BinKaram, founding member of FoCP and Chairperson of the Pink Caravan Ride