Pink Caravan Ride: 5,000 people screened

Yesterday the Pink Caravan Ride wrapped up its 10 day awareness campaign after screening more than 5000 people across all seven Emirates in the UAE. The initiative, a pan-UAE breast cancer awareness drive by the Friends of Cancer Patients charity (FoCP), has now screened approximately 35000 men and woman of all nationalities since its inception five years ago.

The nationwide horseback trek covered 243km offering free breast cancer examinations to 5,000 male and female Emirati citizens and expatriates, bringing the total number of people examined to over 35,000 men and women of various nationalities and ages, over five years.

On the final day of the tour, the riders started from Sheikh Zayed Mosque, riding through Zayed Sports City, Yas Waterworld and finished at Galleria after traveling 17.3km. The riders stopped to distribute educational brochures and pamphlets and direct community members to the mobile clinics to get free examinations conducted by medical and nursing staff.

In its 5th year, the Pink Caravan has been honoured with the participation and continuous support of the UAE's wise leadership who showed their support by participating in its activities and events. This year saw the attendance and participation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, Daughters of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , Sheikha Salama and Sheikha Shamma, Sheikha Alia bint Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, and Sheikh Sultan bin Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

An elite group of official figures, renowned artists, media personalities and sportsmen also took part in the 2015 ride, including Pink Caravan ambassadors, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Community Development in Sharjah, and TV presenters, Saoud Al Kaabi and Ameera Al Fadl, as well as artist Fayez Al Saeed, and Marwan Jassim Al Serkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). Other prominent figures included Hala Al Gergawi, Executive Managing Editor of 'Zahrat Al Khaleej', Mohammed Al Musharakh, Member of FoCP's Board of Trustees, and Olimpia Tabbash Mascolo, Director General of Retail Department at Mohamed Hilal group, founder and partner of "Anfasic Dokhoon".

A highlight of this year's ride was the participation of world-class jockeys, including Tadhg O Shea, Richard Mullen, Pat Dobbs, Royston French, Sam Hitchcott, Adri de Vries, Paul Hanagan, Dane O Neil, Harry Bentley and Oisin Murphy. The jockeys participated in popular championships in the UAE and the region, winning many titles.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.