Sharjah: If you see the army of men and women on horseback wearing pink any time between February 28 and March 6, it’s your chance to get yourself checked for breast cancer for free.
The Pink Caravan Ride will begin its eighth annual ride around the country on Wednesday to heighten residents’ understanding about how important early detection is as it is the key to making 98 per cent malignancies of the breast completely curable.
Since 2011, the annual nationwide initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) has been travelling across the UAE to spread breast cancer awareness. Thousands of volunteers have come forward to serve the community in all aspects.
The Pink Caravan was launched in 2011 under the directives and support of Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
Shaikha Jawaher, Founder and Royal Patron of FoCP, International Ambassador for the World Cancer Declaration of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC, and Patron of the Global NCD Alliance Forum, is determined to improve lives by equipping them with the knowledge and resources they need to tackle cancer. This has led her to pay special attention to the development and outreach of the initiative, which has contributed significantly to several milestones Pink Caravan Ride has reached in seven years.
The ride has been actively engaged in community initiatives and activities that aim to combat breast cancer, locally and regionally. It has successfully established a distinct identity in society — one that people look forward to seeing year on year.
“The Pink Caravan is a quintessential example of how the emirate of Sharjah pays great attention to the well-being of the people of the UAE, and is working non-stop to further their health and safety,” Reem Bin Karam, head of the Pink Caravan’s Higher Steering Committee, said.
“Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers that develop in women, and comprises 16 per cent of all cancer types that affect women worldwide. According to global statistics, 1.1 million women on an average are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.”
Bin Karam said Pink Caravan Ride has been successful in capturing the imagination and attention of thousands of UAE citizens and residents across the seven emirates, especially the young members. “Today, the Pink Caravan Ride is the most important breast cancer initiative in the nation, and one of most prominent voluntary initiatives that attracts community members of all nationalities and age groups who join the PCR volunteering teams and help us meet several campaign targets every year.”
Every year, the Pink Caravan Ride struts off from the emirate of Sharjah and navigates several routes, most notably the equestrian route, which is undertaken by 150 riders who travel hundreds of kilometres across the seven emirates before they wrap up the journey of breast cancer awareness in the capital, Abu Dhabi.
Along their journey, the horse riders interact with and encourage community members to learn more about the disease.
Free medical check-ups
The Pink Caravan offers medical clinics in every emirate that provide free medical check-ups to men and women of various nationalities. A number of awareness as well as fund-raising events and activities are also organised on the sidelines of the ride to shed light on breast cancer, its risk factors and methods of prevention and treatment.
The cost of one medical screening for early detection of breast cancer normally ranges between Dh500 and Dh1,000, but the Pink Caravan offers it for free to citizens and residents across the UAE.
