The Cancer Concern Association (CCA), in a heartfelt partnership with Eden Plaza’s bustling business community, brought down the curtain on Pink October—otherwise globally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month—in a spectacularly vibrant fashion.
From the moment you stepped into Eden Plaza, it was impossible not to be swept up by the wave of pink that adorned every nook and cranny. But it wasn’t just the color that caught the eye; it was the palpable sense of community and purpose that filled the air.
Children gleefully smashed piñatas and got their faces painted, while adults tested their luck in raffles and lucky-dip games. Amidst these jubilant activities, the gravitas of the cause was never forgotten. The Euromedical Clinic, conveniently located on an upper floor, offered free breast examinations. Concurrently, Ministry of Health officials facilitated arrangements for those who wanted to schedule mammograms—a critical tool in the early detection of breast cancer.
Over the span of October, the CCA has orchestrated a gamut of initiatives aimed not just at raising awareness but also at pooling funds for crucial healthcare projects. These projects cater to cancer patients and are in collaboration with the Ministry of Health’s dedicated Oncology Unit.
Dinaz Van Der Lans, the Chairperson of the CCA, could not contain her joy at the community’s overwhelming engagement. “The Pink Challenge on October 20 was a resounding success,” she beamed. “But what fills my heart even more is that our message about the urgency of breast cancer awareness has truly resonated.”
Donations have been streaming in from all quarters—schools, religious institutions, the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC), and various local businesses. These generous contributions are earmarked for several transformative projects, including a program to provide breast prostheses. “We’ve already received over 75 requests,” noted Mrs. Van Der Lans, indicating the high demand for these essential healthcare items.
Saturday’s event also featured a special initiative where attendees penned uplifting messages for the brave souls battling cancer at the Ministry of Health’s Oncology Unit. Mirose Laurencine, Vice-chairperson and a cancer survivor herself, emphasized the life-saving power of early detection. She expressed hope that through collaborations with the Ministry of Health, the CCA would soon offer genetic decoding services to aid in early diagnosis.
Accompanying this article are select photographs that encapsulate the jubilant yet poignant atmosphere that pervaded Eden Plaza this past Saturday.
