Cancer awareness event to raise funds for research

dubai — The seventh edition of ‘Pink is Punk’, a breast cancer awareness event, will be held in Dubai on October 5. The event will raise funds for Brest Friends — a breast cancer support group — in association with the Al Jalila Foundation.

The event will have its original run and swim event, with a new 3km ‘fun run’ added to the mix. “The event is light at heart and it is executed in a way that it creates opportunity for the family to have fun together,” said Guillaume Mariole, CEO of Ignite, organisers of the event.

All of the proceeds from the event will go to helping breast cancer patients, support groups and ongoing research.

UAE resident Jenny Waite, a breast cancer survivor, will be participating in this year’s event along with her family members. Waite told Khaleej Times that she went for a mammogram in October 2016, as part of the breast cancer awareness month. She had no symptoms, however, she was diagnosed with the cancer.

I had very subtle symptoms when I think about it in retrospect. I had focused on looking for lumps and ignored the other symptoms.”

Jenny Waite, breast cancer survivor

The event is light at heart and it is executed in a way that it creates opportunity for the family to have fun together.”

Guillaume Mariole, CEO, nite

“It was a complete shock to be diagnosed as I had no history of breast cancer in the family although we did have many other cancers. I had very subtle symptoms when I think about it in retrospect. I had always focused on looking for lumps and ignored the other symptoms,” she said.

Waite had a bilateral mastectomy and lymph node removal and immediate reconstruction. “All was caught in both breasts before any invasion (spreading) so I did not have to have chemotherapy,” she added.

“The rate of breast cancer diagnosis is increasing year on year unfortunately, so it is vital to keep educating and raising awareness about this subject. This is why events such as Ignite Pink is Punk are so important. It raises awareness on a large scale involving the whole community.

“Sadly most people know someone who has suffered this disease and it’s a very positive uplifting way to contribute in this cause,” she said. —