Burj Khalifa turns pink to create awareness about breast cancer

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The iconic Burj Khalifa turned pink on Wednesday creating awareness about breast cancer and displayed a message urging people to join the fight for all the heroes battling the disease.

The world’s tallest building and the fountain lit up in pink at 7:55pm as part of the October Breast Cancer Awareness month campaign organised by VPS Healthcare’s Burjeel Medical City in association with Emirates Oncology Society and Emirates Medical Association.

It displayed a message: “Join the Fight, Wear Pink, For our Heroes.”

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the UAE. We are losing many of our sisters and mothers to the disease every year. All these precious lives can be saved if we diagnose the disease early. Creating awareness is a crucial and decisive step towards our larger objective,” said Dr. Amar Hassan, Director of Oncology at Burjeel Medical City.

VPS Healthcare and Burjeel Medical City have been conducting massive breast cancer awareness campaign during the month. The Burjeel Cancer Institute at the hospital will be conducting a fitness session and pinkathon (five-kilometer run) to spread the importance of following a healthy lifestyle to stay safe from diseases such as breast cancer. The awareness events will be held on October 24 and 30, respectively.  

Dr. Humaid Al Shamsi, Director of Oncology at VPS Healthcare, said: “We have been assiduously conducting breast cancer awareness campaign for many years. In the past, we had our mobile mammogram clinic traveling to various parts of the UAE and screening women for breast cancer. But this time, owing to COVID-19, we couldn’t do that. This is why we have chosen to display our message to the community on the iconic Burj Khalifa to spread the word to the world.”

“Our hospitals are offering mammogram screening across the emirates. We are grateful to the Emirates Oncology Society for joining us for a noble cause in the fight against breast cancer.”

Burjeel Medical City is also organising a virtual musical concert performed by acclaimed opera singer Louise Ryan and the NSO Quartet String on Saturday, Oct.17, 2020.