|  |  | Yg Berbahagia Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir, whose mother succumbed to breast cancer recently | Who says men can't multitask? Ferhad serenades his fans as he signs autographs |
Jive It Up in Pink Fun Walk, Kuala Lumpur – 10 Sep 2006
By Dr Evelyn Ho Pantai Medical Centre (PMC), Bangsar and Asia Assistance (M) Sdn Bhd organised its 3rd Fun Walk in conjunction with PMC’s Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Campaign. PMC’s first fun walk was organised in 2004 and an equally successful event took place in 2005. Educate, Empower & Encourage is the tagline for PMC’s Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Campaign and aptly describes the holistic approach needed in fighting breast cancer and the fear it invokes pervasively. For the 1,000 people who joined the approximately 5km walk, there were goodies galore and entertainment as well as an accompanying convoy of vintage and classic cars.
It was a lively start with the MixFM team and a Jazzercise warm up led by Tony – a charismatic leader indeed judging by the enthusiasm he managed to whip up amongst everyone present.
There were several check points where water was distributed to the perspiring participants. Amongst the sea of people, some carried placards advocating knowledge and awareness of breast cancer. The route took them through the commercial and residential areas of Bangsar.
The walk was led by Yg Berbahagia Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir, Malaysia’s North Pole Expeditor and the fastest Asian woman to successfully cross the Antarctic in 22 days. In her message to all present, she reiterated the importance of a healthy lifestyle and exercise – something she firmly believed in and embraced. In addition, one had to ensure good breast health habits. Later during the Press Conference, she also revealed her mother had passed on from late stage breast cancer one month ago! So she was really keen to ensure everyone knew that early detection gave them the best chance of survival!
For those who completed the walk with stamps at the check points, they were presented with a goody bag by sponsors. A food fair, games, lucky draw, best dressed (in pink) contest as well as photography opportunities with Amber Chia, entertainment from Ferhad as well as vintage car rides. Ferhad managed to sign autographs and greet his fans while singing in the hot sun and surprised everyone when he announced he had just “lost” his mother to breast cancer 3 weeks ago! It definitely added meaning to his contribution at the activity of the morning and hopefully made an impact that breast cancer is a very common condition that need not kill if detected and treated early!
Despite all the personal testimonies by the VIP and guest artiste - there was definite fun in the atmosphere and there were no rules or losers in this Jive it Up in Pink Fun Walk. There were many breast cancer survivors in the midst of the crowd! A dog with a pink neck scarf with his owner also completed the walk, as did a mother pushing her child in a pram, the young, the not-so-young and those in creative pink attires. Many attacked the food stalls on their return from the grueling uphill-downhill trek.
Pantai Medical Centre has been championing the cause of breast cancer awareness since 2001. Proceeds from this year’s campaign will be channeled to the College of Radiology, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia’s Mammogram Programme (subsidised).
Caring partners: Tokio Marine Insurans Bhd, MCIS Zurich
Official Media Sponsor: Mix FM
Other Sponsors: Banana Boat, Estee Lauder, Cryocord, Drinho, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Bhd, Dettol, Berjaya Starbucks Coffee, Ram’s Langkawi, Rosken, Royal Malaysia Vintage & Classic Car Club, Phantom Event Management, Organon, Jethwani Enterprises, Koon Huat, Fitness First, The Saujana Kuala Lumpur and Roche Diagnostics.
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