Dubai: Around 5,000 people walked to show their support for breast cancer awareness yesterday morning, including an increased presence from Emiratis, say organisers.
This year, the 4th annual Pink Walkathon, part of BurJuman's Safe and Sound Breast Cancer Campaign, attracted a bigger crowd of expatriate and local breast cancer survivors, their family and friends. Last year, around 4,000 participated.
Sabina Khandwani, head of public relations and marketing at BurJuman, told Gulf News she was pleased to see more Emiratis participating in the walk, saying it showed the breast cancer awareness message was reaching all segments of society.
"The number of Emiratis as a group was not a lot, but they are growing in numbers. In the first two years we held the walkathon, we did not see them at all. Realisation [of breast cancer] is getting stronger and we cannot ignore the disease."
She said the mall's breast cancer awareness campaign has worked to reach all, especially the local population, of which the disease is still considered taboo in certain circles.
The Arab culture has traditionally been reluctant to talk about the breast, which is a private part of a woman's body and therefore taboo.
UAE breast cancer survivors have reported ignoring warning signs of the disease, such as lumps in their breasts, due to shame, fear of rejection or denial. Health officials reported still receiving breast cancer cases at an advanced stage.
Lynda Pollock-Mirdad, a breast cancer survivor, hopes to help break the culture of silence. An Irish woman married to a Saudi national, she understands the barriers women in the Gulf face on the issue.
"In the UAE, there is still embarrassment especially among older women, not wanting to talk about it and catching it too late," she said.
She told Gulf News that her husband, who lost his mother to breast cancer, was active in spreading the message of awareness, but added he was usually the lone Arab man giving a talk. She said men's involvement was crucial in helping spread awareness.
Have your say
Do you know anyone living with or has survived breast cancer? How has the disease affected that person's life? Do you think there is still a stigma attached to breast cancer? Are campaigns such as this havin an impact? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form below.
Your comments
I am pleased to see a lot of people participating for the marathon against breast cancer. Why does the same thing not happen in Abu Dhabi as I was ready to run, but here.
Souad
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: October 27, 2007, 12:10
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