UBF Pink Ribbon Walk 2012, Hyderabad

HYDERABAD TURNS PINK TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF INTERNATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
CHENNAI BASED FOUNDATION DONATES RS 10 LAKHS TO UBF

Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation (UBF) and the U.S. Consulate General have successfully organised The Pink Ribbon Walk 2012 on Sunday, 7 October at KBR Park. Some 3000 people participated in the Walk. Breast cancer survivors, their families, prominent people from different walks of life including several Officers working with Govt of AP, Health Care workers, students from Colleges and Schools (10th & 11th standard), Corporates, Bank employees, Politicians & & Film personalities Walked 2 kms to express their unwavering solidarity in support for the Event.

Padmashri awardee Mohan Babu, a well-known Film actor who was the CHIEF GUEST flagged off the event. Padmasri awardee and eminent sports personality, Mr VVS Laxman, Mrs Amala Akkineni, Patron from UBF, Police Commissioner - Mr Anurag Sharma, Mr Ramesh Prasad, Chairman, LV Prasad group, Uma Chigurupati, Chairperson, 10 K Foundation, Mr Keeravaani & fitness expert, Dinaz were the GUESTS OF HONOUR

Speaking on the occasion, Consul General Katherine Dhanani said “Our participation salutes breast cancer survivors and encourages those fighting the disease not to give up. We walk together to show our solidarity and our commitment to spread the word about early detection. 'Dr. P. Raghu Ram, CEO & Director, Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation (UBF), said “AS WE CANNOT PREVENT CANCER, EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO DETECT BREAST CANCER IN THE EARLY STAGES TO SAVE LIVES. In an endeavor to create awareness about importance of early detection of breast cancer, and equally, salute breast cancer ‘conquerors’ & their families in the fight against breast cancer, the PINK RIBBON WALK was held for the FOURTH consecutive year in Hyderabad."
World over, October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness month. In India 100,000 women are affected by breast cancer every year--a number which has overtaken cervical cancer to become the leading cause of death among women in metropolitan cities. More than 50% of breast cancers present in the advanced stage and a woman dies of breast cancer every ten minutes in India. Worldwide breast cancer incidence and mortality are expected to increase by 50% from 2002 - 2020 and those rates will be highest in Developing Nations. Dr Raghu Ram emphasized that the 2 km Walk also aims to impress upon the Govt. of India that breast cancer must become a National Priority.

Di Raghu Ram announced that impressed with honesty of purpose and established track record of UBF over the past FIVE years in its efforts to improve the delivery of Breast healthcare in AP, a Breast Cancer Foundation based out of Chennai (which has been operational for well over 20 years) has donated Rs 10, 00, 000 (Rs 10 Lakhs) to the corpus fund of UBF on 25 September 2012. UBF was zeroed after a meticulous nationwide search by the Chennai based Breast Cancer Foundation. Dr Raghu Ram added that this very generous donation from the Chennai based Foundation has been the most humbling experience and a fitting tribute to the credible work done by the Foundation over the past FIVE years.

Mr Mohan Babu, Chief Guest stated that this is the very first time that he is attending a cancer awareness event and that it was entirely his gut feeling that made him to accept this invite. He paid rich tributes to the tremendous impact made by UBF over the past five years at empowering the community in AP about importance of early detection of breast cancer. He applauded the Trustees of UBF for implementing a unique, innovative, meaningful and cost effective Breast cancer screening Programme in partnership with Govt of AP. He felt that this initiative will undoubtedly help in saving more lives from breast cancer in AP and hoped that this initiative in the fullness of time will be a role model for other States across the Country.

To demonstrate the power of PINK - a colour that represents Breast cancer awareness, Charminar, Buddha statue, US Consulate and Prasads IMAX will be illuminated in PINK on the night of 7th October.