Pink Caravan completes journey to promote breast cancer awareness

DUBAI: The Pink Caravan successfully completed its ride from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi to raise awareness about breast cancer and spread a message of hope among all residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The campaign was launched in 2011 under the patronage of Ruler of Sharjah Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi and wife Sharjah Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi.

Talking to The News International, Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi said that the Pink Caravan Ride has helped the society to not only create awareness about breast cancer but also provide patients with free health care facilities.

She said that more and more cancer patients are being scanned for early detention of the disease. She pointed out that cases of cancer have decreased tremendously due to the initiative.

At the end of a 10-day campaign, the 7th Pink Caravan Ride (PCR) broke its previous records by offering free screenings, mammograms and expert medical advice to 7,108 people, the highest in its seven-year history.

The numbers include 5,991 women and 1,117 men, who were received at 123 clinics operating in seven emirates by a team of 65 medical experts.

Many Pakistani doctors were also part of the campaign. Explaining about her role, Dr Sumaiya told The News International that she is proud to be part of the campaign and wished to launch the Pink Caravan campaign in Pakistan as well, to provide underprivileged women with the necessary information and facilities regarding the disease.

The closing ceremony was held at the Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. He thanked Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi for her efforts in addressing the issue.

Reem bin Karam, Chairperson of the Higher Organising Committee of the Pink Caravan Ride, informed The News International that the campaign has become a unique national example of community engagement. “We meet tonight to conclude the Pink Caravan Ride. In fact, we are all here to renew our spirits for another march of hope,” she said.

At the closing ceremony, a 10-minute short film was shown that captured the essence of the year’s journey across the seven emirates, raising awareness about breast cancer.

The 7th PCR witnessed many firsts. Seven fixed clinics were inaugurated in the seven emirates, which offered free screenings to 2,699 patients. Their charity fundraiser, Pink Bite, sold one burger for $10,000; the highest amount of money ever paid for a burger. A children's ride was organised for the first time in the campaign’s history, to sensitise youth about the risks and remedies of cancer from an early age.