Sharjah: This year’s Pink Caravan ride, which stretched across all seven emirates in ten days, screened 7,108 people for breast cancer — the highest-ever figure in its seven-year history.

Comprising a convoy of 100 horse riders and more than 70 volunteers, the Pink Caravan team screened 5,991 women, 1,117 men, of whom 1,583 were UAE nationals. The people who took the screening were checked at 123 clinics operating out of the seven emirates by a team of 65 medical experts.

Pink Caravan has offered a total 48,499 free clinical examinations since its inception in 2011.

The closing ceremony of the campaign this year was held at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development. Other senior officials also attended.

“Many of you may think we meet tonight to conclude the Pink Caravan Ride,” said Pink Caravan’s organising chairperson Reem Bin Karam at the closing ceremony.

“In fact, we are all here to renew our spirits for another march of hope.”

Bin Karam also paid tribute to her late sister, Ameera Bin Karam, who passed away in October last year from a fire at her family’s villa.

This year’s ride was dedicated to her memory.

“My beloved sister, the late Ameera Bin Karam, established this year’s slogan, ‘7 Years for 7 Emirates’ and sowed the seeds for this seventh campaign before her passing.”

We dedicate this year’s achievements to her golden spirit,” Bin Karam added.

For their final horseback journey of the campaign yesterday, the riders set off from Ikea Yas Island and travelled 11.7 km to reach the finish line at Zayed Sports City.

For the last fundraiser, Pink Strides, a 7-km walkathon was held at Zayed Sports City. The walk was broken up into three rounds, where participants received white, silver and pink bands upon the completion of each round.

For the first time during this year’s Pink Caravan, seven permanent clinics were inaugurated in the seven emirates, which offered free screenings to 2,699 persons.

The Pink Caravan charity fundraiser Pink Bite saw a single burger sold for D36,000 — the most money ever paid for a single burger.

While the battle against breast cancer is far from over, officials believe that the Pink Caravan ride has helped the UAE community become more aware and eager to seek counsel and medical help.