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Swing off cancer

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The second Pink Ribbon Mixed Golf Competition for breast cancer research is scheduled for October 27

Published: Mon 15 Oct 2007, 10:36 AM

Updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 12:44 AM

  • By
  • Zoe Sinclair (Staff Reporter)

canJUST BY swinging a golf club and having a barbeque with friends at the second Pink Ribbon Mixed Golf Competition, a group of UAE residents will be doing their bit to help fundraise for breast cancer research.

The four-person team event already has 72 people signed up for the day on October 27 at the Sharjah Wanderers golf club. Organiser Jenny Hosking, a breast cancer survivor and golfer, hopes the event will be as successful as its debut last year.

While it is set to be an enjoyable day for all, its purpose is foremost on participants’ minds. When Hosking was recovering from breast cancer eight years ago she said she was helped greatly by breast cancer support group 'Breast Friends', established by Dr Houriya Kazim, also the founder of The Breast Cancer Foundation of the Emirates.

Dr Kazim said the support group had only been established for two and a half years mainly because it was difficult to keep numbers up given the transient nature of Dubai. She encouraged UAE breast cancer patients and survivors to join the group which meets on the third Sunday of every month to socialise and partake in activities from drum classes to salsa lessons.

"It’s not doom or gloom," Kazim said. "People think they’re alone and they’re amazed by how many survivors are in Dubai. "I encourage people who are survivors, who may have had breast cancer several years ago and say it’s in their past and they don’t want to be reminded, others need to hear from them."

Hosking said the money will go towards breast cancer awareness and research but also to help make goodie bags for patients undergoing breast cancer treatment. "The goodie bags will have things like a pillow to cushion the surgery area, which Dubai Quilters are making," Hosking said.

"Information leaflets and numbers, essential oils, a notebook and pen so they can jot down questions to ask the doctor. "These are things people often don’t think of." DVDs and information leaflets in different languages will also help raise awareness and Dr Kazim said she would most like to see money go towards research, when research locally has previously been limited.



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