(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Throwing the spotlight on Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is October, Pink Caravan, the breast cancer awareness campaign of Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), made its mark on the international arena.
As part of the collective global efforts to fight cancer and reduce its impact on communities around the world, FoCP participated in the World Cancer Congress (WCC) 2012, at the Palais des Congrs Montreal, Canada.
Held under the theme 'Connecting for Global Impact', the WCC was organised by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) in collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Association, McGill University and the University of Montreal.
Ameera binKaram, president and founding member of the Friends of Cancer Patients said: "The World Cancer Congress is one of the most significant platforms for bringing together organisations and individuals that are united in their purpose to fight cancer, and participation in the congress is of critical importance. Our highly successful participation in the WCC has opened numerous doors for future international collaboration between the FoCP and renowned international, all of which was made possible due to the wise leadership of the Emirates and the support we have received from all community sectors of the UAE."
On the first day of the congress, Ameera binKaram was invited to vote for new members of UICC's board of directors, a prestigious event that takes place every two years.
The second day of the four-day congress opened with the World Cancer Leaders' Summit and concluded with the opening ceremony of the Global Village.
The third day of the congress witnessed a historical moment for Friends of Cancer Patients when Ameera binKaram gave a presentation on the tremendous success of FoCP's Pink Caravan campaign, an initiative launched to create countrywide breast cancer awareness and encourage regular check-ups, along with a short film on the campaign's major achievements.
Speaking before a large global audience comprising specialists and experts from international cancer control organisations, representatives from world-renowned health institutions including the World Health Organisation, prominent Canadian figures, and a large number of doctors, psychologists and representatives of hospitals and pharmaceutical companies of international repute, she highlighted the importance of the campaign in fighting breast cancer in the UAE.
The presentation struck a chord and received enthusiastic applause from the audience, binKaram being the only presenter to receive this honour. Following the session, she was approached by many representatives interested in launching the campaign in their respective countries.
