The Cancer Concern Association (CCA), in collaboration with the Eden Plaza business community, held its final event for Pink October, also known as Breast Cancer Awareness month.
A sea of pink garnished the Plaza, while a number of family-friendly fund-raising activities went on.
In addition to piñatas, face-painting, lucky-dip and raffle sales, free breast examinations were being offered with the Euromedical clinic located upstairs, while Ministry of Health officials did the necessary for those wishing to organise for mammograms for breast cancer screening.
Over the course of the month, the association has organised a number of activities to raise awareness, as well as raising funds towards a number of projects targeted towards cancer patients, and the health ministry’s Oncology Unit.
Chairperson Dinaz Van Der Lans expressed sheer contentment at the level of engagement, especially for the Pink Challenge on October 20. Keeping the association visible is imperative, she added.
“I am overwhelmed with the responses, the Pink Challenge has been extremely successful,” she said.
“But most importantly for me is the message that we need to communicate about cancer, about breast cancer in women, has reached them,” she noted.
Donations have been pouring in, including from schools, a church, the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) and businesses. Donations and funds raised from activities go towards funding the association’s many projects, including one to make available breast prosthesis.
Over 75 patients have requested for one thus far, Mrs Van Der Lans noted, at a cost of around US $175 to $200 per prosthesis, inclusive of air freight.
Members of the public were on Saturday invited to write a positive message of encouragement to cancer patients of the Ministry of Health’s Oncology Unit.
Vice-chairperson Mirose Laurencine who is herself a cancer survivor stressed the importance of early detection, through means such as genetic decoding, which the association hopes to be able to provide in future, with the Ministry of Health.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of Saturday’s event at Eden Plaza.
Source: Seychelles Nation
