Think Pink Bahrain, Breast Cancer Awareness

Proud to be Pink - Community Events

Shaikha Hessa Girls' School Holds "Breast Cancer Awareness Week"

Shaikha Hessa Girls' School organised a Think Pink week in October 2011 to support women with breast cancer all over the world. Aligning themesleves with International breast cancer awareness month, school activities were orgnaised by students to raise awareness of this most worthy cause. This included: participation in the 2nd Pink RCA Walkathon, bake sale, as well as selling ribbons, t-shirts, and badges supplied by Think Pink Bahrain. For the fifth year, an informative presentation was given about breast cancer and the importance of awareness. A small documentary was played, a Q& A session following and each student went away with a laminated information leaflet. The presentation was given by students and staff by Ms. Julie Sprakel (Founder of Think Pink Bahrain). "Each year the school gives the charity an opportunity to talk with the girls at Shaikha Hessa School. This is an invaluable opportunity, and we are honoured to collaborate with them each year. The students really work hard on raising awareness within the school and are very mature and professional", Think Pink Bahrain Founder

Speaking on behalf of the school, Ms. Samia Al Kooheji, the School Principal, "Being in an all female environment at the Shaikha Hessa Girls' School, it is crucial for students to be aware of breast cancer issues. It is our aim to develop young ladies who are conscious of their surroundings and can be healthy, future leaders of tomorrow."

Other an amazing amount of awareness the students also raised 450 BD which will be directed towards the purchase of the digital MRI machine

Y.K. ALMOAYYED & SONS

Riffa Views International School

On the 27th of October, Riffa Views international School (RVIS) held their Think Pink day. Everybody came in pink free dress. Students Mina, Wafa and Jennifer went around the school with Nurse Sam giving out official Think Pink Bahrain bags with Breast Cancer awareness flyer's to all who had donated. At midday the whole school, along with parents, came for an environmental picnic. At the front gate, Jennifer, Wafa and Mina collected donations from the parents. Mina even started busking, improvising a song! The "Think Pink Day" raised BD1330.

"Each year RVIS come up with innovative ways to spread awareness during the month of October. The eagerness of the students to support their local community is overwhelming. Think Pink Bahrain would like to thank all those that organised and supported. The full donation will be directed towards the purchase of the digital MRI Machine" Think Pink Bahrain Founder Julie Sprakel

Dilmun Club Charity Dinner

The Dilmun Club, Saar, has been established since 1974 and is a family, sports and social members club situated in the residential area of Saar. The Club provides a safe, relaxed and friendly atmosphere for a wide range of social, sporting and recreational activities.

It was during a general conversation with some members of the Dilmun Club, that the idea was born to help raise money and awareness for the Think Pink Bahrain Charity. We felt the Dilmun Club was the perfect venue for the event due to its strong ties with the expatriate and local communities.

The conversation was the beginning of an adventure for the four of us (Roz Kennedy, Julie Vine, Sarah Ashbery and Audrey Moore) all of whom had never embarked on such a project before. We put our thoughts to the Manager and the Chairman of the Dilmun Club who were quick to give their support and co-operation to such a worthwhile cause.

Over a short time and many meetings later, the event came to fruition on 20 October 2011. We were astounded by the support received by the sponsors and prize donators, which came as a result of the excellent cause we were trying to promote.

The night was a huge success, 90 people attended the event and monies raised by the raffle, auction and ticket sales amounted to BD 5000 which surpassed all of our expectations.

"On behalf of our organising team, we would like to wish Think Pink Bahrain Charity continued success in achieving your goal of purchasing a Digital MRI scanner for everybody’s use here in Bahrain." says Ms Kennedy.

"The charity is very thankful for the support and awareness spread during the lead up and the event itself. The team and management of the Dilmun Club all worked really hard, and we appreciate the offer of making this an annual event. All the money raised will be directed towards the digital MRI machine" Founding member Think Pink Bahrain Ms Dee Carvalho.

Arabian Gulf University (AGU) supports Think Pink Bahrain

The Arabian Gulf University (AGU) is a medical institute established in 1982. In addition to their will to support a humane cause, AGU students were encouraged to organize a two-day fundraisinh event since it is October, the breast cancer awareness month. They succeeded in selling most of what they received of Think Pink merchandise: 54 polo shirts, 30 sticker and 15 pink shirts. The merchandise income was 594 BD and they totally contributed in 700 BD for funding the MRI machine.AGU also sponsored 40 of its students and staff in Think Pink's "kick up your heels" walkathon held in Bahrain City Centre. Idea by: Zahra Al Mosawi. Organizers: Fajer Alammadi, Zahra Al Mosawi, Amal Al Mahroos, Hawra Al Alwan, Reem Mirza, Mohamed Wael, Ammar Ahmed, Adel Al Oraibi, Ahmed Al Mahrezi and Omar Al-Qabandi.

JJ's presents - The Breast Cancer Awareness Quiz & Karaoke night

For the third year running JJ's Irish Restaurant has participated in breast cancer awareness by supporting Think Pink Bahrain through their famous Karaoke and or Quiz Nights. This year JJ's purchased BD145 worth of shirts from Think Pink Bahrain for the staff to wear and hosted a "Sing for Charity, Pink Karaoke Night, in support of Think Pink Bahrain". Over 200 people showed up in support of the event and over 42 songs were performed by brave and willing karaoke stars. A genuine show of true sisterhood effort was displayed through a performance by 60 ladies who got up on stage to sing "I Will Survive!". A total of over BD 300 was raised between the singing, staff shirts, pink cosmo's on sale on the night and the hit performance of 60 ladies. BD 125 was collected from Ribbon Sales and also BD40 from a separate Jj's Staff collection. Think Pink Merchandise sales and donations came to BD 275 earning bringing the total funds raised on the night to BD750.

HOGs Bahrain - Pink Charity Ride 2011

The Harley Davidson's Owner's Group, or commonly known as H.O.G's, takes part in the third annual pink ride, in support of Think Pink Bahrain. The Bahrain Chapter's early morning Friday ride on the 7th of October saw 65 riders anfd their passengers don pink yet again to raise awareness about breast cancer in the Kingdom. The ride was made up of 102.7 km's and saw the riders stop at two of the three paltinum sponsor's: Both the Royal Golf Club and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland- Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) are platinum sponsor's for Think Pink Bahrain's 2011 campaign and both parties offered the riders a water stop during this awareness ride.

What makes this a special event is that the group is a mixture of both men and woman, from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Many of the riders have been touched in some way by breast cancer and this ride is important on many different levels.

"There is a big misconception about people that ride motor bikes riders. I have to say that every year is a pleasure to collaborate with H.O.G's Bahrain. I applaud each one of them for taking the time, and showing so much community spirit" Think Pink Bahrain Founder, Ms Sprakel

2nd Rotary Club of Adliya Think Pink Walkathon: a Pink Success

The 2nd Rotary Club of Adliya (RCA) Pink Walkathon was held on the 1st of October 2011 with almost double the turn out and money collected for both charities than last year's inaugural event. This second collaboration between two existing Bahrain charities saw a large community response despite the humid conditions. Almost 1,000 participated in the event around the 3.1 km at Dohat Arad - walking track at Arad Bay in Muharraq.

An estimated BD3,000 for charity on the day with approximately BHD 2,000 from corporate pledges still to be collected. The proceeds will be split 50-50 between RCA and Think Pink Bahrain. Dressed in pink, many local schools registered for the walk: ARKIS, Bahrain Bayan School, Sh Hessa School for Girls, Kanoo International School, The Middle East School, along with staff from Little Gem's Kindergarten and the Central Bank of Bahrain.

"It has been a great day and the turn out and enthusiasm from everyone has been fantastic. Rotary is all about helping people however you can and wherever you can and the children and adults that have come here today to support the RCA Think Pink Walkathon have shown they can have fun whilst helping two good causes" Laith Shukayr Rotary Club of Adliya Pressident.

"I am impressed with the local turn out, and it's great to see the younger generation stepping out to support two fantastic causes. It was again a pleasure to collaborate with President Laith Shukayr and the team from RCA. Think Pink Bahrain look forward to a continued collaboration with them in the future. Our mission aims to empower people at grass root levels through collaboration with local affiliates to continue to promote the importance of education and screening programs and community based outreach projects. We feel that the 2nd RCA Pink walkathon enabled the charity to achieve this" Ms Julie Sprakel, Think Pink Bahrain Founder.

Rotary Club of Adliya will use its share of the donations to support local initiatives in both health and welfare in Bahrain.

The money directed to Think Pink Bahrain will go towards the purchase of a digital MRI machine for the Kingdom. MRI: is a procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body and does not use x-rays. Breast cancer screening and using MRI is recommended for woman who are at high risk of breast cancer. Additionally, woman who are high risk, need to begin screening at a younger age. With statistic in the GCC being different to that of woman in the West, this machine is vital. It was a request from the Ministry of Health after a meeting with the Head of oncology at SMC and the then Minister of Health, HE Dr Al Hammer.

Organisers thanked the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland- medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) for supplying 60 marshals, Bahrain Bottling and Beverage Company, American Mission Hospital, The Arad Park Management, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Social Development .

Jawad Supermarkets

Jawad Supermarkets has launched its Think Pink Breast Cancer Awareness campaign throughout the month of October to raise funds and awareness about the disease in association with the Think Pink Bahrain Breast Cancer Charity. As part of its ongoing dictum of charity, Jawad Supermarkets will be donating a part of every transaction conducted during the month of October at both its outlets at The Jawad Dome and at Nwaidrat.

Speaking about the event Fatima Jawad, Member of the Board of Directors, Jawad Business Group said, “We are very proud to support the breast cancer awareness cause by donating proceeds from transactions at our supermarkets. We hope that our campaign raises awareness about the disease in the Kingdom”. Jules Sprakel, Founder of Think Pink Bahrain Breast Cancer Charity said the charity was looking forward to the collaborative effort to raise money for those suffering from the disease as well as to share awareness as a first step to fight against it through education, early intervention and public awareness.