D4D a big success!

Think Pink Bahrain’s Dinar for Distance (D4D) campaign, launched in October last year, has proven successful with people from across the kingdom completing 7403.95km and raising thousands for cancer research, critical projects and supporting individuals.

The initiative was conceptualised by Professor Julie Sprakel, Think Pink: Bahrain Breast Cancer Society’s founder and president. It aimed to motivate people to go the distance in any sport they wish, to raise awareness about breast cancer as well as funds for the Think Pink Research Fund and more.

“There was a combination of support from walking, swimming, running and cycling, but overall movement was the key; moving for a cause for which we know, supports many aspects of our health,” said Dr Sprakel, who came up with the idea after her father passed away in July.

Individuals pledged to run, walk, cycle and swim – or take up whatever exercise they like – for a distance and the goal could be sponsored by friends, family and colleagues.

“It was an important challenge for me, for the team and the community, as we have all been facing some stressful times over the last two years,” she said. “Engagement with the community is important as it drives our awareness. Having a campaign means that we as a community talk about breast cancer and D4D was key to this.

“People would explain why they were jogging or walking and just mentioning the reason spreads our education mantra and supports awareness.”

Dr Sprakel, along with 85 individuals and eight corporations, registered to make their mark. Dr Sprakel promised 50km and achieved 65km for October.

“I chose to walk given I had bilateral pneumonia over the summer and I wasn’t strong enough to swim,” she said. “I managed the sessions on the treadmill, thanks to an incredible playlist, which was free on Spotify, by Radio Bahrain’s Noor Nooruddin.”

Think Pink Bahrain’s 2022 ambassador, Sameera Al Bitar, who is also Bahrain’s former two-time Olympic swimmer and a passionate triathlete, had set a target of 100km of cycling for the charity champions and completed 540km instead.

Meanwhile, Dana Zubari, one of the Lettuce Run founders, a Tru Active fitness attire co-founder, Ironman finisher and triathlete, had rallied 100 fierce females to join her in the Dilmunia Breast Cancer Awareness Walk for the D4D challenge.

They raised more than BD1,500 for Think Pink’s pledge and crossed 300km of distance.

“A lot of people wonder what is the point of wearing pink and walking,” she said. “The point is we are raising money with Think Pink in mind. They not only buy equipment needed for our country, but also remind women to get their breasts checked.”

According to 2020 figures by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Globocan, a subsidiary of the World Health Organisation, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer on the island, accounting for 20.1 per cent of the total cases. It accounts for 37.9pc of cancers among women in the country, followed by colorectal, ovary, corpus-uteri and lung.

Breast cancer traces to family history, age, hormonal disorders, use of birth control pills, menopause and weight gain.

“Just because you are in your 30s, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get checked,” Zubari added. “It is not a disease that hits you when you are older. It can affect  anyone at any stage of their life. These challenges also educate women, especially when you bring doctors who talk about what procedure is suited for what age. A mammogram, for example, is best suited for people who are 40-plus and an ultrasound is for people that are 30 to 40. People that are more prone to having cancer in their family should be doing a mammogram at 30.”

In total, from October 1 last year to the end of January, Think Pink Bahrain has raised more than BD28,000, which will be utilised across different pillars.

Dr Sprakel can’t stress enough that Think Pink Bahrain is a home-grown non-profit organisation and that any money raised, as per the regulations of the kingdom and Decree 50, remains in Bahrain.

They are funding a critical project in relation to lymphedema and will continue to support post care with BioLab, specific lymphatic bandages and counselling.

They will also update their website to showcase the latest evidence-based decision aids with region-specific information in Arabic and English.

“We are looking for support to translate our mobile application into two to three more languages - better serving our community,” said Dr Sprakel. “We are also considering supporting some equipment to help patients going through chemotherapy and the funds will be set aside for this.

“We had a successful meeting with the chief executive officer of Government Hospitals, Dr Ahmed Alansari, and are hoping to work with him and his team to look at pathways and potentially a big project which will be a game-changer. We will need a lot of support from all sectors for donations.

“We are looking forward to officially announcing our additional ambassadors and unveiling the new projects.”

Think Pink Bahrain will be announcing the Community Engagement Award winners for 2021 in the near future and will continue their partnership with Bahrain Polytechnic, whose work will be seen in marketing collateral for the upcoming 2022 campaign. 

Dr Sprakel encourages people to download the free mobile application, to visit www.thinkpinkbharain.com for details and follow

@thinkpinkbahrain and

@bahrainbcsupportgroup on Instagram.