Culture & Education | Thursday 21 February, 2019 3:27 am |

Equestrians partaking in the ninth edition of the Pink Caravan Ride (PCR), the UAE's most prominent breast cancer awareness campaign by the Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP) initiative, have received their guidelines ahead of their seven-day journey across the seven emirates.

 

PCR’s Higher Organising Committee organised a special gathering at DuJumping Club in Dubai yesterday (Tuesday) to complete final preparations for the ride, which begins on Saturday in Sharjah.

 

The orientation event was held under the patronage of Sheikha Hessa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum,and took participating riders through the instructions and safety guidelines to be adhered to during their march across the seven emirates.  The riders received their riding kits and safety equipment, uniforms, and brochures containing health advice and breast self-examination leaflets, which they will be handing out to members of the UAE community on the ride.

 

On the sidelines of the event, a partnership agreement was signed between Pink Caravan and the prestigious ALFAHIM Group with a view to strengthening cooperation to combat breast cancer in the UAE. The agreement was signed by HE Reem BinKaram, Head of the Pink Caravan’s Higher Organising Committee, and Mr Mohammed Abdullah Al Fahim, Head of Business Development at ALFAHIM Group.

 

In line with ALFAHIM Group’s community-driven goals, breast cancer awareness comes under the organisation’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme on promoting healthy living.

 

To draw more attention to this significant campaign, ALFAHIM Group provided four attractively pink-wrapped Mercedes-AMG G 63s and ten sports utility vehicles to travel in convoy with the riders across all seven emirates.

 

Speaking on the occasion, HE Reem BinKaram said: “Over the past eight years, the Pink Caravan has made great achievements, foremost of which is dispelling social misconceptions surrounding breast cancer, and offering free medical screenings to more than 56, 000 people. These milestones would not have been crossed without the uncompromised efforts of our partners from the government and private sectors. We are pleased to bring on board our newest partner, ALFAHIM Group, and firmly believe this partnership will further fuel our community outreach efforts, and help us realise our goals of building a healthy, cancer-aware UAE.”  

 

Mr. Mohammed Abdulla Al Fahim, ALFAHIM Group Head of Business Development stated, “ALFAHIM Group has been a firm supporter of breast cancer awareness for many years helping the UAE in promoting the importance of early detection and how it can save many lives in our community. This year, we are honored to be partnering with the reputable FOCP’s ninth edition Pink Caravan Ride and contributing to their humanitarian outreach programmes.” 

 

Nada Bin Ghalib, Head of the PCR’s Riders Committee stressed on the importance of orienting riders and volunteers to the campaign’s seven-day objectives and dos and don’ts about their own safety. “This gathering helps us ensure the preparedness of riders who cover more than 200 kilometres on horsebacks, marching across the seven emirates for consecutive seven days. Every year we receive numerous applications from new riders, medical practitioners and volunteers eager to support the objectives of the ride, which makes it even more important for us to properly orient new-comers into the ride to optimise their contributions and ensure the best possible outcomes.” 

 

Impressive horse shows were organised during the event, where a number of international equestrians displayed their skills mounted on horses from the Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stables. 

 

The event was attended by HE Reem BinKaram, Mr Mohammed Abdullah Al Fahim, Badr Al Juaidi, Manager of the Pink Caravan Ride. Also attending the event were the ride's committee members, including the riders, volunteers, logistics teams, horse breeders and supporters, as well as a number of breast cancer survivors and their families.

 

The PCR’s Higher Organising Committee honoured several partners during the event, including Anfasic Dokhoon, Zalal Water and Nightgale Homecare Abu Dhabi.

 

Flagging off from the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club on Saturday, February 23, this year’s Pink Caravan Ride will be spending a day each in the seven emirates until March 1. The campaign will be led by more than 150 male and female riders from various nationalities who will travel across the seven emirates, on a journey of hope to fight breast cancer.

 

Free medical screenings will be offered at over 30 mobile medical clinics and seven fixed clinics (one in each emirate). The medical examinations will be provided to all community members throughout the seven days of the annual ride, where free check-ups will be offered for 9,000 Emirati and expatriate women and men. 

 

For the first time in its history, the Pink Caravan Ride will provide genetic testing to make treatment more effective for positive cases of malignancy. The ride also features a mini mobile clinic this year, which will travel across the seven emirates with the campaign's equestrian volunteers, offering self-examination workshops and free consults.

 

Over the past eight years, the PCR offered free screenings to more than 56,000 people across the country.