A group of Saudi athletes, businessmen and community volunteers on a trip around the Kingdom to promote tourism, sports and social responsibility in the country arrived here Sunday. The 12-day tour under the theme “Journey for the Kingdom” has the approval of Prince Sultan Bin Fahd, head of the General Presidency for Youth Welfare, and is supported by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities to boost tourism in the Kingdom. The trip has been organized in cooperation with the Zahra Association for Breast Cancer. The group which started its journey from Riyadh last week will continue to Al-Kharj, Al-Afalj, Abha, Al-Qunfuda, Al-Baha, Taif, Makkah, Jeddah, Rabegh, Al-Ula, Yanbu, Skaka, Ha'el, Onaiza, Dammam and Hufuf aiming to support the concept of social responsibility in the Saudi community. “We will visit a number of malls in Jeddah and launch several awareness campaigns about breast cancer in cooperation with the Zahra Association for Breast Cancer,” said Anwar Helmi, the tour coordinator. During the journey, the Saudi team is keen to enlighten women who are unaware of the dangers of breast cancer, the importance of its early detection and the need to have periodic checkups. “As we travel around the Kingdom, we will visit orphanages and disabled associations, launch awareness campaigns on cancer, and distribute gifts containing social responsibility messages to children in parks and malls,” added Helmi. Suhaib Faraj, leader of the team from Zahra Association for Breast Cancer, said: “During our tour of different cities, we have noticed that the Saudi community desperately needs such campaigns to raise its awareness level.” “We will collect donations from regional emirs and set up mobile clinics, especially in rural areas and remote villages,” added Faraj. A new survey of breast cancer cases is also in the offing. “After the survey we will establish several mobile clinics which will offer free tests to 480 women per month,” added Faraj. Those found suffering from breast cancer will be transferred to government hospitals, he said.
