Dubai: Cyclists, women Harley Davidson bike riders and roller-bladers — a total of 500 people that included survivors and their families, took part in Dubai Health Authority’s Pink Ride Initiative in aid of breast cancer awareness on Friday.
October is celebrated globally as Breast Cancer Awareness month as early detection and diagnosis can help fight it. Right now the highest incidence of death among women owing to cancers is accorded to this deadly disease and a little alertness, knowledge and action on the issue can go a long way in averting the crisis. The 15km-journey was flagged off at the Jumeirah Mosque and ended at the Jumeirah Beach Park.
The campaign was organised by DHA’s Breast Awareness Committee, Dubai Sports Council, Union Cooperative Society UAE, Roads and Transport Authority( RTA) and Dubai Police.
Commenting on the need for such public health awareness campaigns, Salim Bin Lahej, Director of the Moussadah (help) committee at the DHA, said: “Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers and an important way to combat this disease is through awareness about the need to conduct regular screenings. It is a known fact that early detection can save lives and through this awareness campaign we aim to spread this message in our society.”
The Moussadah committee regularly ties up with organisations to raise funds to treat breast cancer patients in DHA hospitals with financial difficulties. The funds collected during this campaign, will go towards the treatment of these patients, he added.
Dr Moza Al Hattawi, chairperson of the DHA Breast Cancer Campaign who lost her sister to the disease, said: “Almost 30 per cent of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer come to us in the third stage, and this is a trend we want to change. Over the years, we have seen a rise in awareness levels but still we find that people do not visit us regularly for a mammogram. Our advice to women is to get a yearly mammogram done after the age of 37 and those with a family history of cancer should get one done every year once they turn 20.”
