Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, has announced that it raised AED1 million for breast cancer research and treatment during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the international health campaign held every October to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.

It is estimated that one in eight women will develop breast cancer, making it the most common cancer among women. In the UAE, the average age of diagnosis is 10 years younger than elsewhere in the world. The high prevalence of breast cancer in the UAE reinforces the critical need for medical research and improved treatment to combat the disease and, ultimately, save lives.

During October, Al Jalila Foundation led a month-long community programme with partners to host almost 100 pink themed activities and events.

Government bodies and corporations organised employee wellness days which included talks by medical practitioners and survivors. Topics covered the importance of early detection, how to conduct self-examinations and the symptoms of breast cancer. Breast cancer survivors shared their personal stories reinforcing that the disease can be beaten.