Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

If there is one organisation that is doing a stupendous job of raising awareness of the dreaded disease of cancer among the people, it is the Sharjah-based charitable entity Friends of Cancer Patients.

Set up under the aegis of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients, International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC and Patron of the Global NCD Alliance Forum, it has helped thousands gain access to detecting and treating of the disease.

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 FoCP is committed to help cancer patients and their families get through their challenging journey of cancer treatment. This has become all the more acute during the time of the coronavirus pandemic. But the generosity of the organisation is such that it takes care of providing free medical checkups for the detection of cancer. It even ties up with hospitals to cover costs of treatment for patients.

Its pathbreaking initiative, Pink Caravan Ride, conducts free breast cancer screenings across the seven emirates of the UAE, while raising awareness on the importance of early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, its prevention and risk factors.

It has at least 1,000 volunteers, including over 800 equestrians who led the routes for medical specialists and allied professionals committed to the cause of spreading breast cancer awareness and periodic breast screenings.

In a new development, Friends Of Cancer Patients (FOCP) will organise the first “Gulf Survivors Forum 2021” on Monday, 28th June, 2021, under the slogan “Together We Thrive”, to highlight the powerful and inspiring stories of cancer survivors, and their journeys of strength and hope.

Held in collaboration with the Gulf Federation for Cancer Control (GFCC), the forum is designed to encourage communities across the Gulf region to make a lasting difference in the lives of cancer patients by forging a connection with the cancer community through monetary and moral support.

The two-hour virtual event, which brings together one survivor each from various cancer associations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), will be streamed live on FOCP’s YouTube channel at 11:00 (UAE Time).

Eminent speakers include Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, founding member and Vice Chairperson of FOCP’s Board of Directors; Dr Walid Abdullah Al Batati, Executive Director of the Hadramout Foundation for Cancer Control, and Yasmin Yousri, social media influencer and cancer survivor. The forum will be moderated by Alia Al Shamsi, presenter at Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, and Dr. Saeed Alamodi, presenter at the Cultural and Media Office at the Supreme Council of Family Affairs - Sharjah.