Every one of us can take steps to stop breast cancer. But it doesn’t always have to be hospital-related. This Sunday, you can actually take a walk along the beach and do your bit in helping women protect themselves from breast cancer, courtesy the ‘One Walk One Hope’ campaign undertaken by CAN-STOP. Coming towards the latter part of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), this walk is expected to see at least 2,000 people from various walks of life spreading the message ... and some hope!
CAN-STOP (Cancer Support Therapy to Overcome Pain), is an organisation that has been tirelessly working to increase awareness about various forms of cancer — and help people deal with cancer and cancer-related problems. It is a centre for counselling (information, advice, consolation, listening) for cancer-affected patients, their families, and friends.
The Walk for Breast Cancer awareness has been organised since 2009 and has been seeing more and more people coming in every year. As the number of people suffering from breast cancer has shot up alarmingly over the past decade, so have the efforts of NGOs to urge people to get themselves screened periodically for breast and cervical cancer.
Incidentally, this year’s walk promises to be much more than just that — it is going to be a carnival of sorts, with a strong message. Set to be inaugurated by Radhikaa Sarathkumar and her actor-politician husband R Sarathkumar, it will also see the participation of famous personalities like dancer Gopika Verma and prominent Rotarians.
There will be a doctor, dietician and counsellor present to answer queries on breast cancer. After the walk, which will begin at Lady Willingdon College proceed up to the Labour Statue and return to the college, people will get to enjoy a music performance by singer Anjana and band.
Walkers will also have the opportunity to donate money to help CAN-STOP conduct free mammograms for women who cannot afford them.
Normally mammograms can cost anywhere between `1500-`2,000, but CAN-STOP offers subsidised mammograms for `1,000, which people can sponsor.
Keeping with the PINK theme that the Breast Cancer Awareness month has worn internationally, pink coffee mugs, water bottles, T shirts and other products will be available at the walk’s venue.