[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="7th Pink Caravan Ride smashes all previous records" ids="127504,127505,127506,127507,127508,127509"] By A Staff Reporter
Sharjah — At the end of the seventh Pink Caravan Ride, the number of people's lives this pan-UAE breast cancer campaign has touched with awareness about the importance of early detection through regular screenings speaks louder than words. The 10-day campaign broke its previous records, offering free screenings, mammograms and expert medical advice to 7,108 people — the highest the initiative has in its seven-year history. The numbers include 5,991 women, 1,117 men, 1583 locals, and 5570 residents who were received at 123 clinics operating out of the seven emirates by a team of 65 medical experts.
The closing ceremony was held at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi in the presence of HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE's Head of Ministry of Culture, and Knowledge Development; Scott Charles Bolz, a US embassy representative; HE Jassim Al Bloushi, Head of Organisational Excellence at Sharjah Islamic Bank; HE Nada Askar, Director General of Sharjah Women Sports Foundation and Dr. Mai Al Jaber, Deputy Medical Director at Healthpoint Abu Dhabi, Specialist Public Health Medicine.
"Everyone present here epitomizes deepening community awareness and passionate community development, and I am glad to be part of this celebration In the Pink Caravan Ride's efforts, the vision of the UAE's wise leadership is clearly reflected," said Sheikh Al Nahyan.
"The 7th Pink Caravan Ride did not just unite the nation, it united our hearts. In the UAE Year of Giving, we believe this was our biggest contribution to the spirit of humanitarianism. Many of you may think we meet tonight to conclude the Pink Caravan Ride. In fact, we are all here to renew our spirits for another march of hope," said Reem BinKaram, Chairperson of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Pink Caravan.
The seventh edition of PCR witnessed many firsts. Seven fixed clinics were inaugurated in the seven emirates, which offered free screenings to 2,699 patients. Their charity fundraiser Pink Bite, sold one burger for USD10,000 — the highest amount of money ever paid for a burger. A Children's Ride was organized for the time in the campaign's history to sensitize the youth about the risks and remedies of cancer from an early age.
Sharjah Islamic Bank and Sharjah Media Corporation are PCR's strategic partners. The main chapter sponsors included Bee'ah, DEWA and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and DP World.
While the nation's battle against breast cancer is far from over, the UAE community's awareness and eagerness to seek counsel and medical support is much higher now than it used to be, thanks to Pink Caravan Ride's seven-year long efforts.
Since 2011, Pink Caravan Ride has travelled 1,640 kilometers across the 7 emirates with 492+ riders, 700+ volunteers, providing free clinical examinations to 48,499 locals and residents in 578 clinics. These statistics are shared between 38,856 women and 9,643 men.
