Organised annually since 2011 by the UAE-based cancer non-profit, Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP), the Pink Caravan Ride (PCR) breast cancer awareness campaign has witnessed enormous success in educating and empowering local community across the UAE’s seven emirates. This achievement would have been impossible without the hundreds of volunteers who have been the driving force behind the annual event

PCR has been a source of inspiration for countless residents who spared no effort and spent countless hours to help take the campaign’s message far and wide. One such person is a researcher,Dr Sara Musa Hammoudeh, who has volunteered alongside her family members since the inaugural edition of the ride.

The time Dr. Sara spent volunteering with PCR inspired her to focus her academic journey at the University of Sharjah where she recently earned a PhD in Molecular Medicine and its Clinical Applications on the topic of malignancies in the breast, and thus, developed her doctoral thesis on the topic: ‘The role of intracellular heterogeneity in breast and lung cancer and the causes of COVID-19 infection: Strategies for early disease detection and management.’

She focused her thesis on developing mechanisms to study and understand elements that cause intracellular heterogeneity in breast and lung cancers. As regards the effect of COVID-19 on such patients, Hammoudeh said that she was motivated to research some aspects of the disease as part of her study.

Volunteering over vacationing

Speaking about the strong attachment she has formed with the Pink Caravan Ride,Hammoudeh noted: “My family was preparing go on vacation when we saw PCR’s call for volunteers for their inaugural ride in 2011. We decided to forgo our plans and volunteer with the ride instead. Since then, PCR has been an integral part of our family.”

Her experiences with cancer patients motivated Dr.Hammoudeh to become a scientist and researcher. “These professions require excellence in science, creativity, innovation, diligence and attentiveness. During the annual rides, I met amazing cancer survivors, and their stories of strength, suffering, and courageous journeys inspired me to dedicate myself to finding a cure for breast cancer through research,” she added.

DrHammoudeh believes that volunteering is about giving without expectation, and noted that what sets PCR apart is that the hundreds of volunteers who join the ride for an entire week and cover hundreds of kilometres on foot raising breast cancer awareness are beaming with the distinct spirit to help safeguard and educate their society.

On her doctoral thesis, DrHammoudeh expressed her gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his patronage and support of research and education, and for providing a full scholarship for her doctoral thesis. She also expressed her appreciation to Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, 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, for her unwavering support to PCR and various other humanitarian initiatives.

The volunter’s bond with Pink Caravan is forever

Dr. Hammoudeh said that she considers Pink Caravan her second family, and would continue to volunteer and support their noble cause. She also urged others to do voluntary work highlighting that it forges and strengthens bonds between community members.

The Pink Caravan Ride is the UAE’s leading breast cancer awareness campaign. Till date, more than 824 equines and 910 volunteers have trekked 1,953km across the seven emirates, volunteering more than 400,000 hours to ensure the success of the initiative. Since its inaugural ride, the campaign has offered free early breast cancer detection examinations for 75,089 persons.