The official launch date of the fifth edition of the Pink Caravan Ride; the annual
The official launch date of the fifth edition of the Pink Caravan Ride; the annual pan-UAE horse-back trek, has been confirmed by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Royal Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients society (FoCP), International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC.
The Ride will take place from the 16th until the of 25th March 2015, to help spread awareness on breast cancer.
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi announced that she is proud of the Pink Caravan’s inspirational achievements throughout the past four years. By dispelling myths related to breast cancer and by offering free screenings to 29,000 women and men throughout the country, the ride has managed to gain considerable success in raising awareness about the significance of early breast cancer detection.
She stressed that sustaining the momentum of the Pink Caravan Ride for five consecutive years would not have been possible without the immense support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in addition to the valuable contributions of various government bodies, organisations and corporates, and as well as leaders and dignitaries and a large segment of the community.
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi said: “Breast cancer endangers the lives of many people, irrespective of gender, nationality and race, as its physical and psychological effects pose a grave threat to cancer patients and their families and the entire community. This is why we want this campaign to pursue its mission of raising awareness about the impact of this disease and the need for early detection and regular examinations. This noble message should not be confined to a particular agency or a specific category, but we must unite all efforts in the fight against this disease, as early detection screenings help increase survival rates, so as to ensure the safety and health of all citizens and residents”
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi also expressed her profound appreciation to all those who have contributed to supporting the PC Ride during the past four years. She thanked the Pink Caravan team, horse riders, medical staff, volunteers, sponsors and the PC ambassadors for their generous efforts to disperse fears and dispel misconceptions related to breast cancer, and for providing the necessary medical examinations for almost 30 thousand women and men in different parts of the country.
She called for government and private organisations and community members to participate actively in the Pink Caravan Ride 2015, and encouraged all to support and interact with its activities and benefit from the various provided services.
With over 100 well-trained riders, the Pink Caravan Ride 2015 will kick off in the Emirate of Sharjah on March 16th, passing through all seven Emirates, and wrap up its tour in Abu Dhabi on the 25th of March.
During the 10-day ride, the medical team accompanying the riders will offer free breast cancer examinations to community members, spread public awareness by distributing educational brochures and holding lectures and workshops on how to perform self- examination of breast cancer and ways of supporting and dealing with cancer patients.
Since its inception in 2011, The Pink Caravan has sought raising awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer, and of highlighting the impact of the disease throughout the UAE. The PC efforts have greatly contributed to dispelling misconceptions related to breast cancer, and provided indispensable financial and emotional support to patients and their families.
The Pink Caravan has played a significant role in reducing breast cancer’s incidence in the region, and diminishing its progress to advanced stages through free screenings that help protect the lives of citizens and residents. The initiative has received tremendous interest from local and international organisations involved in the fight against cancer and spreading awareness about its dangers.