The 6th annual Pink Caravan Ride will kick off on March 7th -17th 2016 it was announced today (22/02) by the Higher Organising Committee. Under the theme, "Soldiers of Pink Hope” the 10-day horseback ride will be launched under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The Pink Caravan Ride, an initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), travels all seven emirates with a team of medical professionals and horseback riders in order to promote awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and offer free breast cancer screenings to everyone, regardless of age, sex or nationality.The announcement came during a press conference at the Executive Office of Her Highness SheikhaJawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and founder and Royal Patron of FoCP,International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC and was attended by HE AmeeraBinKaram, President of Board of Trustees, founding member of FoCP and Chairperson of the Pink Caravan Ride's Higher Organising Committee. HE Mohamed Khalaf, Manager of Sharjah Radio and Television at Sharjah Media Corporation; Jassem Al Bloushi, Head of the Organizational Excellence at Sharjah Islamic Bank; SawsanJafar, Board Member of FoCP; Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Head of the Sports Committee;,TVpresenter and Pink Caravan Ambassador AmiraAl Fadl,Pink Caravan Ride and FoCP Committee members, and many media representatives were also present.There will be more than 100 riders of mixed nationalities taking part in the ride which will kick off from the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club and wrap up in Abu Dhabi it was announced and there will be mobile clinics open daily from 9am-7pm at specific locations in each emirate during the 10-day ride offering breast cancer detection examinations to thousands of women and men.
For the first time there will also be a non-mobile clinic open to all in Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjahfrom 4-10pm throughout the ride with medical teams offering screenings and advice about the disease. According to the Higher Organising Committee, this service will be rolled out across all emirates in the coming years following the positive progress made by the Pink Caravan with regard to community interaction and the growing awareness about the importance of breast cancer examinations.HE AmeeraBinKaram opened the press conference by expressing her pleasure and pride in theinitiative that demonstrates the solidarity of the Emirati community towards spreading awareness about breast cancer prevention.She said, “Today, we carry on with the mission of the Pink Caravan Ride, an initiative in line with the UAE's approach laid out by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE and pioneering leader of humanitarian work. Through this initiative we continue to spread awareness about the importance of early detection and self-examination of breast cancer across the country. We have shown that the negative effects of this disease can be avoided if the necessary awareness and free screening are provided to everyone.”
BinKaram added, “This success would not have been possible without the support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and the support of his wife, Her Highness SheikhaJawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, as well as the on-going support of UAE leaders and community.”BinKaramsaid the Pink Caravan has offered breast cancer detection examinations to 36,332 women and men of all ages and nationalities across the country over the past six years.Of these, 10,839 cases were referred for mammogram screenings, and 1,362 people were referred for ultrasound, while 28 cases of breast cancer have been detected. FoCP provided support and treatment to 30 patients with breast cancer, at a cost of AED7.5 million. Its volunteer base has grown to include more than 300 figures and corporates, in addition to doctors, nurses, students and the families of patients who help and support cancer patients.
BinKaram said, “This year our theme, “Soldiers of Pink Hope” has a very special significance attached to it. Through this theme we express our gratitude to every person who has turned into a soldier, including the Pink Caravan riders, doctors, nurses, volunteers, sponsors, media representatives and the UAE’s citizens, residents, and visitors, and all those who cooperated with the medical teams and underwent testing to support and spread the Pink Caravan’s mission in their communities. You are our soldiers of pink hope.”In a speech delivered on behalf of the Sharjah Media Corporation, the Pink Caravan's strategic partner, HE Mohamed Khalaf, Manager of Sharjah Radio and Television, said, “The Pink Caravan has established an equal footing to the prestigious international organisations dealing with breast cancer and has garnered worldwideattention, contributing significantly to promoting awareness about breast cancer in the UAE.”He added, “The Pink Caravan deserves support in spreading its message and therefore the Sharjah Media Corporation has embraced this initiative. Since the launch of the Pink Caravan in 2011, we have been present in all its activities, broadcasting its messages through our TV and radio channels.”
Jassem Al Bloushi, Head of the Organisational Excellence at Sharjah Islamic Bank, the Pink Caravan's official partner, said, “Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) is keen to participate actively in activities aimed at promoting the values of social solidarity in the UAE in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and in keeping with the vision of SIB's Board of Directors headed by HE Abdul Rahman Al Owais for supporting all leading projects that benefit our society, in appreciation of the community that we are proud to partner with.”
Al Bloushiextended his profound thanks to SheikhaJawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi for her unlimited support and patronage of the Pink Caravan as well as for giving them the opportunity to participate in the community initiative.LizeDe Jonge, Project Manager at FoCP and Manager of the Pink Caravan highlighted the four pillars of the the Pink Caravan Ride, which are riders, mobile clinics, events andfundraising. She noted that the ride will have exceeded 1,438 kmover the past six years after travelling 198km during the 2016 ride.
In a video message, Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, Director General of FoCP and Head of the Pink Caravan Medical and Awareness Committee, said, “Since its inception in 2011, the Pink Caravan has always been keen to forge partnerships with local and international medical institutions concerned with breast cancer. In line with this approach, this year's ride will witness the launch of our strategic partnership with theThe Princess Grace Hospital in the United Kingdom, one of the most important multidisciplinary and best equipped hospitals in London. The hospital, which has a team of highly qualified doctors and surgeons, will send a consultant radiologist to join us on the ride who will read the preliminary results of mammograms.”
Dr Sawsan added: “Preparations for this year's ride started with registration for medical teams as we received a great response by doctors and nurses who wanted to join the “Soldiers of Pink Hope”. We organised a training workshop on First Aid for the Pink Caravan team, including riders, committee members, FoCP staff, volunteers and the logistics team in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all taking part in the 2016 ride. We will also organise a medical training day on February 27th for the medical team, including physicians, nurses and technicians.”Al Madhi extended special thanks to the Ministry of Health, Health Authority-Abu Dhabi, Dubai Health Authority, Sharjah Health Authority, and University Hospital-Sharjah and the Emirates Medical Association.
ReemBinKaram, Head of the Pink Caravan's Event Committee, said the ride will feature a range of events including “Pink Bite” at Galeries Lafayette in Dubai, and “Together we Achieve Better” at Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjah. There will be the “Pink Regatta” in the Palm Dubai, “Cross Fit” in Jumeirah Beach Residence, and the “Pink Circuit” at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. AmmarAkhtar, Founder and CEO of 1Call Group Solutions, spoke about the Pink Caravan smart app, explaining that the smartphone application gives users the opportunity to get the daily schedule of the Pink Caravan Ride and other entertaining, sports and medical events held alongside. It also contains daily photos and videos. The 10-day Ride kicks off on March 7th, from the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club, and stops at Al Dhaid Hospital at 4:30pm. On March 8th, the riders move from Al Dhaid Hospital at 9am, and travel to Masafi Hospital at 4:30pm. On day 3, the horseback expedition flags off from City Centre Fujairah at 9am, heading to Khorfakkan where it will arrive at KhorfakkanOceanic Hotel at 4:30pm. On day 4, the riders will move from the Ras Al Khaima Women’s Higher Colleges of Technology at 9am and will stop at the Cove Rotana Resort at 4:30pm. The riders will rest on Friday, March 11th.
On day 5, the ride will start at Umm Al Quwain Hospital at 9am and arrive at Kempinski Hotel Ajman at 4:30pm. On Sunday, March13th the ride will flag off from Kempinski Hotel Ajman at 10am and stop at Al Qasba in Sharjah at 4pm, travelling 24 km. The ride will continue on March 14th from RixosHotel the Palm-Jumeira in Dubai at 10am, to Al IttihadPark in Dubai at 4pm. On day 8, the ride will kick off from Dubai Downtown-BurjKhalifa at 9am, and will arrive at SufouhBeach in Dubai at 3pm. On March 16th, the Pink Caravan Ride will flag off at 9am from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi,stopping at the Executive Office at 2:30pm and on the 10th and final day, March 17th, the ride will begin from the Abu Dhabi Corniche at 9am and arrive at St. Regis Hotel at 3:30pm.Medical clinics will be open throughout the 10-day ride, from 7am-9pm, in each emirate. On Monday, March 7th, medical clinics will be set up at Al Qasimi Hospital, SharjahCharity Assosiationand Sharjah Ladies Club and the mobile medical van will be at Al Dhaid Hospital. On March 8th they will be available at Dibba Al Fujairah Hospital, Masafi Hospital and the mobile medical van will be at Kalba Hospital. The medical clinics will be available in Al Thameed Clinics in Sharjah, Fujairah Hospital and the mobile medical van will be at Khorfakkan Hospital on Wednesday, March 9th.
On Thursday, March 10th, medical clinics will be stationed in Ras Al Khaimah, at Saqr Hospital, AlDiqdaqa Healthcare Centre, and the mobile medical van will be at Expo Center in RAK. Friday March 11th will be a rest day.Medical clinics will be available in Dibba Al Hisn Medical Centre in Sharjah and the mobile medical van will be at Falaj Al Muallah Healthcare Centre in Umm Al Quwain on March 12th. They will also be available in Al Manama Healthcare Centre, ShaikhKhalifa Hospital, Mezher Healthcare Centre, and the mobile medical van will be at the Umm Al Momineen Association in Ajman, on March 13th, in Ajman.On Monday, March 14th, clinics will be available in Al Mezhar Healthcare Centre and the Indian Secondary School in Dubai, while the mobile clinic will also be available at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. Medical clinics will continue to provide free screenings at the United Medical Centre, and the mobile medical van will be at Golden Galleria Mall in Dubai, on Tuesday, March 15th, and will be available in Abu Dhabi at Health Point Hospital, the British Embassy and the mobile medical van will be at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday, March 16th.On the last day of the ride, March 17th, medical clinics will be available in Health Point Hospital, the National Union Bank and the mobile medical van will be at the Abu Dhabi Airport.