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MEMBERS of the marvellous Muharraq Horse Riding School Ladies’ Endurance Team are thrilled to be taking the reigns as breast cancer charity Think Pink’s brand ambassadors for this coming year’s awareness campaign.
The organisation’s founder, Jules Sprakel, is equally delighted to have the sportswomen in the saddle and believes that they are a perfect fit for the initiative’s image.
She said: “Community spirit, endorsement and transparency are what have led Think Pink Bahrain to be a change agent in terms of breast cancer awareness.
“Always thinking ahead and engaging with the community, it is important for the charity and its brand to be seen in a positive light and in turn help increase our awareness mission and vision.
“It is with this exciting news that Think Pink Bahrain announces their 2016 brand ambassadors as the first all-female Endurance Team from Muharraq Horse Riding School.
“The key element of this ambassadorship lies with the team being the first in its field to participate and compete in a predominantly male sporting scene. The girls will form once again an extension of our concepts both whilst during the race season and also supporting corporate and school visits in the build-up to International Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
“We are proud to be partnered with this team who will spread our breast cancer awareness mission to another dimension of the Bahrain community.”
The seven sporting trailblazers, namely Rehab Isa Suhrab, 33, Hasna Ali Al Tannak, 21, Elizabeth Botha, 42, Rehab Aamer, 21, Lateefa Al Seddeqi, 21, Latifa Al Seddeqi, 22, and Hessa Al Meshari, 14, are tickled pink to have been chosen to help empower women across the kingdom.
They are aiming to spread the charity’s message at coming horse riding competitions and events as well as to their immediate families and friends sporting special Think Pink uniforms. Even the horses will be donning pink with ribbons attached to their bridles.
Bahraini Rehab, the team captain and assistant coach of the endurance squad, who lives in Arad, said: “It feels awesome to be chosen and we are incredibly honoured to be a part of such a noble cause.
“We will act as diplomats for Think Pink, speaking to friends, family and other ladies about their issues involved.
“Our aim is to create more awareness for them and represent the charity in our everyday surroundings. When we attend events, we will be branded in pink and we will be carrying a message of hope and dedication.
“The hope and dedication we have as riders to finish a race is the same or even stronger hope and dedication that every breast cancer survivor needs to become fit again and to fight this disease.
“We want to ride for those who cannot ride or are busy fighting for their lives. We want to share our fitness strategies with those that are not so fortunate to be healthy and inspire them to become stronger within themselves.”
According to South African Elizabeth, a managing partner of Moments & Memories Events Company and a supporting member of the team, it takes immense dedication to be an endurance rider.
Endurance riding is a long-distance competition against the clock, testing the speed and endurance of a horse and challenging the rider over their effective use of pace, thorough knowledge of their horse’s capabilities and ability to cross all kinds of terrain. Although the rides are timed, the emphasis is on finishing in good condition rather than coming in first.
Elizabeth, from Amwaj, said: “Many people do not realise how much commitment and dedication it takes to be a competitor in this sport.
“Some days you really feel like giving up but then you need to continue on behalf of the team and the horses are also impacted when they feel you are giving up or quitting. That is the message we also want to spread. Never give up.
“I am not just an ambassador; I am a woman who could be diagnosed with breast cancer too. Even men can be diagnosed with breast cancer. Through this campaign, I intend to learn more about the disease and will help educate others about it as well.
“We need to know the symptoms, signs, how to go about ensuring early detection so treatment can be sought and how to manage the disease if necessary.
“When you are more aware, you are able to share that understanding. Knowledge sharing is so crucial.”
Squad members train regularly at the Muharraq Horse Riding School which was founded in 1980 and originally called Samaheej Stables. It was the first horse riding school in Muharraq that its facilities now feature a small animal park. Ambitious investment plans include building the nation’s first indoor arena for students to train throughout the year.
Currently, two of its riders have qualified to race internationally in 80km events after completing two 40km races. The other riders are still in a development stage.
Elizabeth added: “I think we have done very well over the last two years. It would be incredible if we can race abroad as a Bahraini ladies team. This will not only enhance international relations among female riders, but also create more awareness of breast cancer and the Think Pink Bahrain charity.”
