Two big records in one day for 7th Pink Caravan Ride

Much excitement and anticipation surrounded Day 3 of the 7th annual Pink Caravan Ride, as the riders climbed onto their thoroughbreds and set off on a path the Pink Caravan had never trodden before.

For the first time in their six-year history, the 10-day Pink Caravan Ride, which is travelling across the seven emirates from 7th to 17th March, mapped the picturesque coastal towns of Dibba Al-Fujairah and Dibba Al-Hisn on the east coast of the UAE.

The horseback ride travelled over 25 kilometres, covering Souq Anwan in Dibba Al Hisn; Dibba Hospital in Dibba Al Fujairah; and finally ending the ride at Al Fujairah beach in the evening.

While new milestones were being reached in the Ride’s Equine Route, Pink Caravan Ride’s Medical Route had a busy day receiving 977 visitors – the largest number of walk-ins the campaign has received so far in a single day. What made the day even more significant was the participation of 148 male visitors who visited the Saqr Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah for breast cancer screenings and medical advice.

The 977 screenings included 376 mammograms, 555 regular screenings and 46 ultrasounds. Of the total number of visits, 212 were made at fixed clinics operating in the seven emirates. Raising the total numbers of screens in 3 days to 2131, including 304 men.

"We are on a mission to eliminate taboos and build community awareness, so what happened at Saqr Hospital is truly encouraging for the Pink Caravan advocates. While it is true that the odds of a man getting breast cancer are about 1 in 1,000, they carry a higher mortality than women do, primarily because awareness among men is less, which can cause a delay in seeking treatment. We want the UAE’s citizens and residents, whether male or female, to take charge of their health and wellbeing, and we are right here to aid them in every way we can," said Dr. Sawsan Al Madhi, Director-General of Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) and Head of Pink Caravan’s Medical and Awareness Committee.

"Breast cancer does not discriminate between men and women, and neither should we. Put yourself before social prejudice or taboos; those don’t save lives. Thinking you're too manly to see what's going on with your body is misjudging manliness. Check it, don't neglect it," Dr. Al Madhi added.

After receiving his breast cancer screening at Saqr Hospital, Mohammed Adeeb Kaddah said that the medical team provided me with precious information about breast cancer, which made me go ahead and take the screening. I did not know before today that breast cancer is a disease that can affect men. I encourage every man to go ahead and do what I did."

The horse riders will set off on tomorrow's journey, Saturday, at 09:30 from Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Saqr Hospital, and travel 20.5 km to reach RAK Beach Road where they will end the day’s ride.