Pink Caravan, a pan UAE Breast cancer awareness initiative by Friends of Cancer (FoCP), has announced the theme for its sixth annual ride is to be “Soldiers of Pink Hope” recognizing all those who have supported and collaborated with the Pink Caravan in previous years to raise awareness about breast cancer in the UAE. The Pink Caravan’s Higher Organising Committee announced the theme for the ride,scheduled to kick off from Sharjah on March 7. The theme recognizes the work of all individuals and institutions who have been involved with the Pink Caravan and have helped in spreading its message of awareness, hope and solidarity in the UAE. In doing so, supporters of the Pink Caravan became “soldiers” of its message. H.E. AmeeraBinKaram, President of the Board of Trustees and founding member of FoCP and Chairperson of the Higher Steering Committee of the Pink Caravan Ride said, “This year our theme, “Soldiers of Pink Hope” has a very special significance attached to it. Through this theme, we would like to express our gratitude to every person who has turned into a “soldier” including the Pink Caravan riders, doctors, nurses, volunteers, sponsors, journalists 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.
BinKaram added: “Our soldiers played a key role in helping the Pink Caravan achieve its objectives of promoting breast cancer awareness, the importance of early detection and the elimination of misconceptions surrounding it. Over the past five years, we have provided free testing to 36,332 men and women of all nationalities and from different emirates in the UAE.”She thanked the wise leadership, and His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Her Highness SheikhaJawaherBint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Founder and Royal Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients, International Ambassador for the World Cancer Declaration of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC, for continuously supporting the Pink Caravan.In 2015, over 140riders took part in the Pink Caravan Ride, in addition to80 medical staff and 500 volunteers. Sharjah Media Corporation, Sharjah Islamic Bank, and University Hospital Sharjah were the main partners and supporters of the event
Since its launch in 2010, the Pink Caravan succeeded in promoting awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and brought about a measurable step forward among people in the UAE with regard to dealing with the disease. It also succeeded in breaking down barriers of silence and fear, dispelling misconceptions surrounding the disease, and encouraging thousands of men and women of all nationalities and age groups to get regular check-ups.The Pink Caravan is an initiative of FoCPconcerned with promoting and increasing awareness of breast cancer and the importance of having regular and early screenings. It was founded under the directives and with the support of SheikhaJawaherBint Mohammed Al Qasimi, 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 Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah.