Participants going through their paces during the Breast Cancer Awareness event at the Ritz-Carlton yesterday. (Kammutty VP)
BY RAYNALD C RIVERA
DOHA: Over 50 members of Ladies of Harley roared their engines marking the launch of a series of activities for the Breast Cancer Awareness Month yesterday at Ritz-Carlton Doha.
The ‘Stand Up To Cancer’ event led by Ladies of Harley was a joint initiative with Pink Ribbon Campaign of Ritz-Carlton Doha and supported by Think Pink Qatar, Qatar Cancer Society, Hayat Support Group, International Academy for Intercultural Development, The Youth Company and Qatar Optics. It featured speeches of hope, mural painting, Tree of Hope, crafts for kids and lots of entertainment.
“Today marks a special day because we are kicking off the Breast Cancer Awareness Month for Qatar for women to go and get checked. Ladies of Harley along with Harley Owners Group Qatar Chapter are here to support them,” said Margarita Zuniga of Ladies of Harley which currently has 120 members of various nationalities.
Karen Al Kharouf, founder of Think Pink Qatar, which has played an active role in breast cancer campaigns in the country since its founding five years ago said awareness campaigns have been very effective in reducing fatalities caused by the deadly disease.
“According to health experts in the area treating breast cancer, the number of breast cancer patients that they detect early whose lives are ultimately saved has really been increasing with the awareness campaigns,” said Al Kharouf, adding the number of people coming to get tests has been increasing thus decreasing the death rate.
“When we started five years ago, nobody even wanted to talk about breast cancer but now we get constant calls from corporates who wanted us to come to their sites to have breast cancer awareness drive for their female staff,” she said.
Think Pink Qatar, which currently has 2,000 members with 8,000 more expected this year, is also organising other events in observance of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, one of which is the ‘Tour de Pink’ wherein 300 cyclists are anticipated to join the ride from Doha Golf Club to Al Khor Community Centre. They are also organising a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk for Life and other activities, added Al Kharouf.
The event is also part of a slew of activities for the ‘Pink Ribbon Campaign’ of Ritz-Carlton Doha. “Ritz-Carlton has taken this initiative to raise awareness in Doha and the whole of Qatar which hopefully continues for the next five years,” said Greg D’Souza, Associate Director of Sales and Marketing, Ritz-Carlton Doha.
Another highlight of the hotel’s campaign is the “Breast Cancer Awareness Day” to be held on October 20 featuring talks by experts and cancer survivors. “We have collaborated with the Health Ministry and Hamad Medical Corporation for the event in which doctors as well as cancer survivors will deliver motivational speeches,” said D’Souza, adding there are also other events such as balloon twisting and face painting for children.
The Peninsula
