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Sharjah, Apr 02nd, 2011 (WAM) -- UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah H.H Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi flagged off today the Pink Caravan from Sharjah to tour the UAE with a mission of spreading awareness about breast cancer and providing free genetic testing and consultations. Pink Caravan was inspired by Cecile Guillemot, a Friends Of Cancer Patient's (FOCP) volunteer who envisaged a way of delivering the message about breast cancer awareness with her passion for horse riding. Under the guidance and support of HH Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Sharjah Ruler, the Pink Caravan was embraced as part of the Kashf initiative. Pink Caravan is a journey of more than 100 male and female riders determined to spread awareness and encourage early detection by regular self examination and screening amongst the UAE people. Pink Caravan is the horse-back ride across the UAE, spreading the message to all members of the UAE community from the mountain and desert regions to the sea. Flagging off the journey, the Ruler cautioned the knights about the importance of perseverance, endurance and courage in achieving their noble goal. Sheikh Sultan praised the riders for their courage and competence in leading the caravan and travelling across the country, including remote areas, to spread the message of preventing breast cancer. The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Hamid Jafar, Chairman of Dana Gas, Ahmed Saad, Deputy CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank, Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), Marwan Al Serkal, Executive Director of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Ameera Bin Karam, President of Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), the Founding President and members of the FoCPs Board of Trustees, along with a number of officials and members of the organizing committee. He saluted and appreciated to the organizers of the Pink Caravan campaign and its volunteers and workers.He also met members of the Organizing Committee and the volunteers and nurses accompanying the caravan.
To emphasize the importance of spreading awareness and early detection, the Awareness Committee of the Pink Caravan Campaign has selected a group of qualified and well trained medical staff to work onboard the caravans. The Committee has divided these medical professionals into three teams to provide daily health services at three important sites, such as medical clinics, schools or shopping malls, on the campaign's route. The Pink Caravan se out on its journey today at 6.30 from the Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club. The ten-day pan-UAE tour will last until 11 April and will cover all the seven emirates, passing through Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and back to Sharjah before heading to Dubai. It will end its journey at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) in Abu Dhabi on 11 April, stopping at more than 10 clinics and visiting around 21 schools along the way. 'The Pink Caravan - Riding for Courage' is an initiative supported by the Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP) and Sharjah Islamic Bank. To emphasize the importance of spreading awareness and encouraging early detection, the Awareness Committee of the Pink Caravan Campaign, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Dubai Health Authority and Abu Dhabi Health Authority, has selected a group of qualified and well-trained medical staff to work onboard the caravan. The Committee has divided the medical professionals into three teams to provide daily health services at three important sites, such as medical clinics, schools or shopping malls, on the campaigns route. These medical teams will carry out various assignments, including educating women on how to perform monthly self examinations for early breast cancer detection. These health professionals will also refer women over the age of 20 years for free mammography and ultrasound screenings, answer queries and questions by people and distribute health awareness brochures. In addition, the campaign will donate a model designed to show women how to perform breast self-examinations. This model will be donated to all medical clinics to ensure the continued education and awareness of women who regularly visit these clinics.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.
