Let’s Think Pink to make a difference

October will see hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world rally to raise awareness of breast cancer.

In Bahrain, the official ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’ will see the coming together of healthcare professionals, government officials and volunteers in a combined bid to help beat the disease which has robbed so many families of loved ones.

Worldwide, breast cancer is responsible for almost one per cent of all deaths and in Bahrain more than 80 cases of breast cancer are detected every year. One in eight people will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. 

A host of events aimed at raising awareness and money to provide treatment for breast cancer sufferers are being planned.

Spearheaded by Bahrain’s first breast cancer charity, ‘Think Pink’, October will see events ranging from gala evenings and lectures to pink days and fitness classes being undertaken by charitable organisations and businesses throughout the country.

Established in 2005, Think Pink has raised BD36,000 for Bahrain Cancer Society over the past two years.

“Think Pink is all about awareness,” said founder, Jules Sprakel. “When you’re educated it’s the best possible prevention.”

Despite working exhausting hours as an intensive care nurse, Australian-born Ms Sprakel has made it her mission to help educate people about breast cancer.

“My grandmother, aunt and mum suffered from cancer,” she explained. “When I was in my 20s I had two breast cancer scares. I decided that for my 30th birthday I didn’t want presents but I wanted people to donate some money to a breast cancer charity.”

Discovering there wasn’t a charity specifically devoted to breast cancer in Bahrain, Ms Sprakel decided to do something about it … and launched ‘Think Pink’. The charity kicked off with a gala evening and auction at the Coral Beach Club.

More than 400 people attended and in 2005 alone she raised BD10,500. Ms Sprakel began to approach businesses for sponsorship and with the help of friends and colleagues organised an annual golf tournament.

In May, the Think Pink charity Golf Day raised a further BD4,000 when more than 100 women showed their solidarity by teeing off dressed in pink. The event broke a record in Bahrain for the largest number of registered female players in a competition.

In total last year, Think Pink raised more than BD17,000.

“Think Pink is a whole community,” says Ms Sprakel. “Without everyone pulling together we wouldn’t be here. As expats we call Bahrain our home, so we all need to work together to generate awareness.”

Think Pink will hold its third annual ‘Think Pink Breast Cancer Charity Evening Event’ at the Bahrain International Circuit on Friday, October 26.

The money raised will be directed towards breast cancer awareness campaigns and to local Bahraini women and families suffering from breast cancer. 

“Breast cancer is not race, religion, gender or class specific,” said Ms Sprakel. “Through research, education, early intervention and public awareness we aim to aid in the fight against the disease. This event aims to raise public consciousness and financial support for the people in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

“The evening is about standing together as a community, united as people. Last year we raised and amazing BD17,000 for the Bahrain Cancer Society. Please come and help us top this amount.”

See diary of events on Pgs 32-33