27th Oct 2013 – Pink October Carnival 2013, Polo Ground, Ipoh

October is breast cancer awareness month and throughout the world, female-related non-governmental organisations would initiate activities to create awareness on breast cancer among their communities.

In conjunction with the International Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, Perak Women for Women Society (PWW), Pink Champion Society Perak and Pantai Hospital Ipoh organised the Pink October Carnival to raise awareness on the disease and women’s issues.  It was held at the Polo Ground recently.

One of the relevant events on the programme was the Walk-A-Hunt where teams of participants hunted for clues concerning breast cancer and women-related issues.  These clues were derived from participating booths and the surroundings.  Dato’ Hj Abdul Rahim Md Ariff, Ipoh City Council Secretary, flagged off the hunt.

Other activities consisted of Bowling to Beat Breast Cancer, where coconuts were used as bowling balls and recycled bottles as bowling pins.  Participation among the spectators was keen.

One other event of relevance was the Walk-In-Her Shoes where men wore high-heel shoes and paraded in front of the crowd.  The objective was to make the male participants know how it felt to be in a woman’s shoes.  Some were game enough to dress themselves as women.

Pantai Hospital Ipoh provided health screening and other NGOs dispensed information on breast cancer and women’s issues. Booths selling food and knick knacks enhanced the prevailing carnival atmosphere. A flash mob dubbed, “One Billion Rising” prompted the crowd to join in the dance.  The message of the group dance was preventing violence to women.

Maybank presented aids to Pink Champion Resource Centre in the form of a personal computer, breast prosthesis and wigs. It will also organise a workshop for counsellors.

The finale saw the Executive Councillor for Health, Tourism and Culture, Nolee Ashilin Dato’ Mohammed Radzi, giving prizes to winning participants.  She then officially closed the event.

(news extracted from www.ipohecho.com.my)