Sharjah: The fifth edition of the Pink Caravan breast cancer awareness ride has started.
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on Monday inaugurated the launch of the Pink Caravan ride at the Sharjah Equestrian Club, by donates 17 Arabian horses from Al Qasimi Stables to support the drive.
The 337km ride will pass through all seven emirates and wrap up its tour in Abu Dhabi on March 25.
Along with a team of 150 well-trained riders, the campaign will include a medical team who will provide free screenings to men and women in over 30 stops across the country.
During the opening ceremony, Shaikh Sultan honoured sponsors who supported the Pink Caravan since its inception, as well as gold donors and the Gold Ambassador for 2014 for their efforts in spreading awareness.
These included Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development; Shaikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Development and International Cooperation, and Shaikha Manal Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wife of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairperson of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of the Dubai Women’s Establishment and Ambassador of Pink Caravan.
Shaikh Sultan signalled the start of the ride and the expedition headed for Al Dhaid city, covering 31.9km on its first day.
Free screenings
The Pink Caravan will be accompanied by mobile clinics, along with a professional medical team, who will provide free screenings daily from 9am to 7pm in each emirate.
On the first day of the Pink Caravan tour mobile clinics at Al Qasimi Hospital, Charity Society Association in Sharjah and Al Dhaid Hospital received men and women of various nationalities.
The clinics will be available in Kalba Hospital, Dibba Al Fujairah Hospital and Masafi Hospital in Al Fujairah on March 18, and in Al Thamid Clinics in Sharjah, Fujairah Hospital and Khor Fakkan Hospital on March 19.
So far, the Pink Caravan Ride has travelled 940km, with the participation of more than 350 male and female riders, 200 volunteers and over 400 mobile medical clinics.
The Pink Caravan Ride visited 84 schools and presented educational lectures about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Over 500 training workshops were also conducted on how to perform self-examinations.
“Every year, over 150 male and female horse riders of various nationalities travel across the seven emirates to spread awareness and hope. Today, as the horses make their way across the streets of the UAE, the echo of the Pink Caravan can be heard in every city, district and house in the UAE,” said Ameera Bin Karam, President of the Board of Trustees and founding member of FoCP.
