SHARJAH: Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Royal Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC and Chairperson of The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), has launched the “Ameera Fund” to support cancer patients worldwide. The gesture has been made as a tribute to the late Ameera BinKaram.
Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi’s initiative comes in recognition of Ameera BinKaram’s rich contribution to humanitarian work. The move aims to memorialise her tireless compassionate efforts and to urge others to follow her voluntary and charitable approach in supporting cancer patients in the UAE and beyond.
Sheikha Jawaher announced the donation of the first revenue to the “Ameera Fund” and called on all individuals and organisations inside and outside the UAE who are interested in contributing to humanitarian causes to support the fund through donations. This will help it achieve its goals of providing treatment for cancer patients in need. Those who want to contribute to the cause can make donations through the main branch of “Sharjah Islamic Bank,” account number 0034-430430-015, IBAN AE740410000034430430015, or directly reach TBHF on +97165941283.
A MODEL OF GIVING
Sheikha Jawaher underlined that Ameera BinKaram had always believed in the need to help cancer patients, especially those who cannot afford the cost treatment, which can be considerable. She worked hard to help these patients through providing treatment expenses on both the local and global level. BinKaram encouraged activate community engagement in covering the costs for cancer sufferers from her belief that a community shoulders a moral and humanitarian responsibility towards such patients wherever they are in the world.
“In recognition of Ameera BinKaram’s incredible contribution to humanitarian work, we decided to continue in achieving the noble goals that she strived for with such commitment and dedication throughout her lifetime,” Sheikha Jawaher said in a highly emotional statement.
The Ameera Fund will operate under the umbrella and supervision of TBHF, a Sharjah-based global humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide. Projects and initiatives approved by the fund will be implemented by FoCP, while the fund will generate income through donation campaigns and contributions from across the world.
Paying rich tribute to Ameera BinKaram, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher said, “Ameera BinKaram was a humanitarian icon and a symbol of community work in Sharjah and the UAE. She was a model of giving, sacrifice and dedication for Emirati women, the nation and the entire world.
“She worked tirelessly to alleviate suffering and to promote a supportive environment for women’s empowerment. Her departure from this world has left a void in the lives of everyone who knew her and who had benefited from the amazing accomplishments she attained throughout her life.”
THE FUND
Sheikha Jawaher underlined that the launch of the Ameera Fund comes in recognition of Ameera BinKaram’s immense efforts to support cancer patients in the UAE and beyond through FoCP and the Pink Caravan. Both initiatives provide free treatment for patients, raise awareness about cancer and provide numerous initiatives and charity projects in Arab and foreign countries, all of which have a significant impact for beneficiaries.
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher added, “The Ameera Fund will commemorate Ameera BinKaram’s indefatigable spirit in order to carry on along the path she forged for cancer patients, as well as their relatives, who are in need. The support provided by the fund will ensure the continuance of the initiatives that BinKaram contributed to and to which she remained faithful to right up to the last day of her life.”
Sheikha Jawaher called on all individuals and organisations to support the Ameera Fund through donations and to help it achieve its humanitarian objectives of providing treatment and healthcare for cancer patients, raising awareness about the disease and encouraging all community members to undergo health examinations. TBHF, in collaboration with FoCP, implements charity projects dedicated to providing treatment for cancer patients in need around the world.
Ameera BinKaram, who died along with her mother and sister in a fire in their home in Sharjah last week, was actively involved in humanitarian work through a series of initiatives and projects that focused on promoting awareness about cancer, fighting the disease and supporting those who suffer from it. She was also active in the empowerment of women and encouraging them to effectively participate in economic development, as well as promoting entrepreneurship, fighting non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and advocating social responsibility.
In the last years of her life, Ameera BinKaram dedicated most of her time and effort to combating cancer through FoCP, which was founded in 1999. Since its inception she led and supervised numerous initiatives and campaigns launched by FoCP to raise awareness about cancer and provide necessary treatment for patients, in addition to providing psychological and moral support for cancer patients and their families. Her work in these endeavours has contributed to improving the lives of thousands of citizens and residents in the UAE and beyond.
Ameera BinKaram worked dedicatedly to implement the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah and the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi. She contributed to launching the Pink Caravan initiative in 2011 and was appointed the Chairperson of the Higher Steering Committee of the Pink Caravan Ride, which travels across the UAE dispensing health advice and free health checks.
BinKaram worked devotedly over five years to manage the initiative and achieve its goals of dispelling misconceptions related to breast cancer and promoting awareness about the disease. Her efforts and dedication enabled the Pink Caravan to offer early detection examinations for more than 41,000 women and men during this short period of time.