Some 2,500 Qatar residents have already registered to walk in this year’s “Walk for Life” event to support breast cancer awareness, organizers are reporting.
The annual walk, which first attracted some 400 people four years ago, will be held on Oct. 28 at 4pm on the Corniche. It is free to the public, but participants must wear the color pink and register to walk by e-mailing thinkpinkqatar1@yahoo.com or RSVPing on the group’s Facebook page here.
Donations can be sent on behalf of Think Pink Qatar to the Qatar National Cancer Society, TPQ founder Karen al Kharouf said.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Qatar and has the highest mortality rates. The country’s medical professionals have been working to devise a “culturally appropriate” strategy to encourage women in Qatar to get regular screenings.
Qatar Tribune reports:
“Our mission has always been to spread awareness of facts that causes breast cancer so that we could encourage regular check-ups, awareness of what to do if you suspect something out of the ordinary while doing self-examination and the knowledge that early detection is the best defence against breast cancer,” Kharouf said…
“Having breast cancer is not a death sentence. Not knowing the facts about it or getting regular checkups or avoiding treatment can cause death. The annual Walk for Life got people talking about this information.
Al Jazeera English did a short report on the social stigma associated with breast cancer in Qatar and other Arab countries in 2009 – check it out here.
Are you planning to attend the walk? Please send us your photos!