Healthcare | Wednesday 1 November, 2017 2:19 pm |

After an entire month of breast cancer awareness initiatives in the form of breast health wellness days for large multinationals corporates, talks by cancer experts, free screenings, and more, Pink Caravan – the UAE’s most popular breast cancer awareness initiative by Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) – furthered its support to the international breast cancer awareness month (BCAM) through a Pink Morning event titled ‘Ready, Sail, Skydive’ that comprised a skydive and a regatta activity in Dubai Marina.

 

It was a pink Tuesday morning where residents and regulars to the waterside promenade of Dubai Marina Walk were greeted by a regatta of five boats on the waters of the Arabian Gulf. On board were higher management members from Pink Caravan, Skydive Dubai, Nakheel, Zero Gravity, and about 10 cancer survivors waving the pink flag of awareness, and encouraging the people of the UAE and the world to take greater responsibility for their health and wellbeing. The boat parade was part of Pink Caravan’s “Ready, Sail, Skydive” event organised to mark the end of BCAM.

 

Nakheel Marine Group sponsored the boats for the regatta.  Director Ali Saeed Bin Thalith said:  “We cherish our longstanding partnership with Pink Caravan, and are proud to support their noble mission of empowering people and spreading hope through breast cancer awareness. We are delighted that Palm Jumeirah was chosen as the venue for this exciting event and are honoured to have been involved as part of our ongoing support for Pink Caravan.”

 

“Through this event, we tried to stress the importance of continued awareness and education for breast cancer. Through our campaigns and awareness drives, we have spoken many times about the different regular breast screenings methods, yet it cannot be overemphasised. Pink Caravan has always used innovative ways to create and spread awareness about breast cancer early detection. Pink Caravan has covered now Land, Sea and Skies with it's Pink Message,” said Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, Head of the Pink Caravan Medical and Awareness Committee.

 

“Timely detection of breast cancers is key to successfully managing and treating the disease, upping the chances of survival and complete cure by 98 percent. We should not misinterpret breast cancer awareness month as a 30-day affair, because essentially it is a strong global reminder not to let our guards down through the year,” Al Madhi added.

 

Next came the star of the show, the pink skydive, where a plane with a massive Skydive Dubai logo in pink and Pink Caravan logo took-off from their runway and flew 5,500 ft into the sky. Next, two expert aerial sportspersons jumped from the aircraft – one hoisted a massive 3’ by 5’ metre Pink Caravan flag, and the other captured the fall footage on a video cam. They were welcomed back on land by numerous cheering supporters who flanked the landing strip. The flag was gifted to Pink Caravan team.

 

Sponsors of the skydive, Skydive Dubai’s, Senior Director, Abdullah bin Habtour said: “It is an honour to be able to support this initiative. We will be keeping the pink Skydive logo and Pink Caravan logo on this plane until next year. Taking responsibility, staying informed and aware, and dealing with cancers – all require immense amount of courage. Courage is a prerequisite when it comes to a freefall from 5,500 ft followed by a rapid descent at 120 mph. Through this skydive we expressed our support and solidarity towards an issue that has far-reaching impacts on our community.”

 

Zero Gravity provided refreshments and a networking zone for the event. Their manager, Paul Mcgee, said: “It’s amazing to see that so many people have come together to raise breast cancer awareness. An event like this helps people who are otherwise occupied with their busy lives put things into perspective. Meeting cancer survivors and hearing their stories of courage and survival against all odds has been very absorbing emotionally. We are happy to have been able to support this great event.”

 

Pink Caravan, the pan-UAE breast cancer awareness initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients charity (FoCP), which was launched in 2011 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and 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.