“I am glad that I had cancer – it was God’s way of letting me share a positive story with other people.” That was the inspirational message given by Aalya Losloso, a Philippines national and cancer survivor who was participating at the UAE Relay for Life, a 24-hour cancer awareness walkathon and the first such event to be held in the MENA region.

Addressing an audience at the ‘Survivors’ Tent,’ a main feature of Relay for Life, which was held at American University Sharjah, Aayla said that positivity was something that was vitally important for those facing cancer. She also expressed her view that the support from her employer was fundamental in her personal battle with the disease.

“My advice to those who have cancer is to try not to get stressed, as the more stressed you are the more the cancer cells will multiply. I am very fortunate to be working for DHL and everyone there has supported me, my colleagues and my management, and that helped me to overcome my cancer in a short period of time. I am now nine years cancer-free. Many people with cancer or who have loved ones with cancer now come to me for advice and I feel very blessed to be in a position to help them because of my personal experience,” said Aayla.