Launch of the 2016 Pink Caravan Ride announced under patronage of Sultan Al Qasimi

SHARJAH, 23rd February, 2016 (WAM) -- The 6th annual Pink Caravan Ride will kick off on March 7th and run until March17th 2016 it was announced yesterday by the Higher Organising Committee. Under the theme, "Soldiers of Pink Hope", the 10-day horseback ride will be launched under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The Pink Caravan Ride, an initiative by the Friends of Cancer Patients, FoCP, travels through all seven emirates with a team of medical professionals and horseback riders in order to promote awareness of the importance of early detection of breast cancer and offer free breast cancer screenings to everyone, regardless of age, sex or nationality. The announcement came during a press conference at the Executive Office of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and founder and Royal Patron of FoCP, International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC, and was attended by Ameera BinKaram, President of Board of Trustees, founding member of FoCP and Chairperson of the Pink Caravan Ride's Higher Organising Committee. Also present were Mohamed Khalaf, Manager of Sharjah Radio and Television at Sharjah Media Corporation, Jassem Al Bloushi, Head of the Organisational Excellence at Sharjah Islamic Bank, Sawsan Jafar, Board Member of FoCP, Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Head of the Sports Committee,TV presenter and Pink Caravan Ambassador, Amira Al Fadl, Pink Caravan Ride and FoCP Committee members, and many media representatives. There will be more than 100 riders of mixed nationalities taking part in the ride which will kick off from the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club and wrap up in Abu Dhabi it was announced, and there will be mobile clinics open daily from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. at specific locations in each emirate during the 10-day ride offering breast cancer detection examinations to thousands of women and men. For the first time, there will also be a non-mobile clinic open to all in Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjah from 4 - 10 p.m. throughout the ride with medical teams offering screenings and advice about the disease. According to the Higher Organising Committee, this service will be rolled out across all emirates in the coming years following the positive progress made by the Pink Caravan with regard to community interaction and the growing awareness about the importance of breast cancer examinations. Ameera BinKaram opened the press conference by expressing her pleasure and pride in the initiative that demonstrates the solidarity of the Emirati community towards spreading awareness of breast cancer prevention. She said, "Today, we carry on with the mission of the Pink Caravan Ride, an initiative in line with the UAE's approach laid out by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE and pioneering leader of humanitarian work. Through this initiative, we continue to spread awareness about the importance of early detection and self-examination of breast cancer across the country. We have shown that the negative effects of this disease can be avoided if the necessary awareness and free screening are provided to everyone." BinKaram added, "This success would not have been possible without the support of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and the support of his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, as well as the on-going support of UAE leaders and community. – Emirates News Agency, WAM –http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395291909603.html