News & Pics: Alex Lewis
Daijiworld Media Network – Dubai

Dubai, Oct 29: Highest ever number of participants took part in the annual BurJuman Safe and Sound Pink Walkathon to raise breast cancer awareness and funds.

The streets of Dubai were bathed in pink on Friday October 28 as the eighth annual BurJuman Safe and Sound Pink Walkathon once again brought together thousands of supporters who set off on the 3.6 kilometer walk from BurJuman.

The number of participants involved in this year’s Pink Walkathon is the highest ever in the charitable event’s history. The 12,000-strong crowd all donning Safe and Sound caps and T-shirts, included breast cancer survivors and their families, individuals supporting the cause, schools, universities and corporate teams who took to the streets to show their solidarity and help raise funds to support activities aimed at raising breast cancer awareness and supporting patient care.

The non-competitive event is the biggest gathering and most anticipated flagship initiative in the year-round Safe and Sound activity schedule, and this year brought the Campaign’s activities during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to a successful close.

The morning’s activities started off great music spun by DJ Sash. Rob Idol, the UK’s number one ‘Robbie Williams’ tribute artist then roused the crowd with lively renditions of chart-toppers such as ‘Angels’, ‘Let me entertain you’ and ‘Eternity.’ The performer, who was part of the 2010 ‘Take That’ tour and has played more than a 1000 shows to an audience of over 2 million people, got the participants revved up for the walk and was cheered on by the crowd as they prepared to set off. Dancers and drummers kept up the tempo. Thousands of environmentally friendly pink balloons released marked the start and 12 Harley Davidson riders led the walkers down the route, followed by 50 Dubai Drummers. Pink drums also handed out by the organizers to walkers had kids and families drum to the beat all along the way.

Post-walk, a live band, free drumming sessions with Dubai Drums, arts and crafts activities for the young participants, roaming entertainers, face painters, super breakfast offers and great bargains at the Pink Bazaar let participating families make a great morning out of the event.

“The Pink Walkathon is a wonderful and tangible sign of the UAE community’s support of the Safe and Sound message – which is to raise awareness on breast cancer and encourage more women to be vigilant and proactive towards their own health. Over the years we have seen thousands of participants giving their time to be a part of this event. The funds raised through registration fees will directly serve the Campaign’s activities but the sheer number of supporters is an achievement in itself and a clear demonstration that people in the UAE know that doing their bit to spread the word can help save lives,” says Sabina Khandwani, Spokesperson of Safe and Sound and Head of PR and Marketing at BurJuman.

This October, the BurJuman Safe and Sound campaign and the Pink Walkathon as the anchor event were supported by the strategic partner Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE) as well as principal partners ADCB, Amber Clinics, Del Monte and UniCare Medical Centre. Masafi yet again provided water to participants of the walk.