Pink Caravan Ride to start from Sharjah Equestrian Club with more than 100 riders

The breast cancer awareness campaign is steadily putting the final organisation elements in place, under the attentive care of HH Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and Founder and royal Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients Charitable Organization (FoCP), for what promises to be the ride's most successful edition yet.

Speaking on the occasion, H.E Ameera BinKaram, President of the Board of Trustees and a founding member of FoCP, said, "Her Highness, Ruler of Sharjah has always been supportive of various humanitarian campaigns and initiatives that meet the people's health, well-being and social needs. We are proud of the direct support of His Highness and the care that Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi imparts to the Pink Caravan and His Highness' keenness to attend the launch of the Pink Caravan Ride for the third consecutive year, encouraging participants and volunteers, providing them with motivational and moral support for the 2013 ride."

BinKaram added, "We are very proud with what the Pink Caravan committees have achieved so far. We are ready for the 2013 Pink Caravan Ride, with over 100 riders who have passed their proficiency tests ready to start the journey with us, accompanying 24 members of the medical team. The 2013 Pink Caravan Ride is aiming to achieve 5000 quality screenings during the 10-day ride with increased emphasis on education and changing the current misconceptions about breast cancer."

As part of the intensive preparations, the Pink Caravan's Organizing Committee held a meeting yesterday to discuss the latest preparations. The meeting, which formed part of Pink Caravan's intensive preparations for the ride, was attended by FoCP President H.E Ameera BinKaram, Head of Event committee Reem BinKaram, Pink Caravan Project Manager Lize De Jonge, Head of Medical and Awareness committee Dr Sawsan Al Madhi, Head of Public Relations and Media committee Vian Al-Shwani, and Head of the Equine and Rider committee Abdulwahid Aljeaidi. Also in attendance were Head of the Wellness and Nutrition committee Zena Habi, as well as Cecile Guillemot, who is heading the Development and Innovation Programme, and Nouri Othman Agha, who is charged with the Stables.

BinKaram went on to stress the importance of community involvement, stating, "The success that Pink Caravan has achieved thus far would not have been possible without the dedication of our committed volunteers. The logistics involved in organising an event of this magnitude is considerable and I want to thank all of the municipality and police departments in all the seven emirates for their support and collaboration."

The pan-UAE trek will be taking place from the 2nd to the 12th of February and aims to spread awareness about the importance of early detection in the fight against breast cancer. In addition to the ride undertaken by horses, riders, Pink Caravan ambassadors, and members of the royal families, the campaign also includes a mobile mammography unit as well as numerous screening days hosted by clinics across the country.

Launched in 2011 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Founder and Royal Patron of the FoCP, the Pink Caravan is a year long awareness campaign which, in addition to it the annual ride, is continually working to provide the residents of the UAE with information and means to detect, treat and overcome breast cancer.