The Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) founded by Mrs Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu, wife of Ondo state APC governorship candidate had its annual WALK FOR LIFE in Akure, Ondo state capital a fortnight ago.
The city of Akure was painted pink when women and men adorned in pink shirts, caps and wristbands, turned out in their numbers to raise awareness for breast cancer in Nigeria, by partaking in the activity Jog for Life 2016. The WALK FOR LIFE is an annual fun event organised by BRECAN every October, an international breast cancer awareness month where participants jog through a designated route.
BRECAN was founded in 1997 by Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, a breast cancer survivor. It is a leading non-governmental organisation charging action against breast cancer in Nigeria. The event held in Akure was aimed towards raising awareness about the disease in the state. The crowd of participants which included secondary school students, joined effort with BRECAN to sensitize the people of Akure about breast cancer and encourage victims to come out and seek information and support.
The WALK FOR LIFE started at Chicken Republic at Futa Junction, where participants started the five mile walk that ended at Akure City hall, led Mrs Akeredolu. At the hall, Mrs Akeredolu, the president of BRECAN, gave a short lecture about the danger of the disease and enlightened the women of the state to make their health care top priority.
Mrs Akeredolu urged the women to join the effort in spreading breast cancer awareness in their communities. In her short lecture, she told the women that ignorance is responsible for the death of women with breast cancer. She urged them to go to hospital if they find signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
Addressing issues affecting the fight against cancer, Mrs Akeredolu said that breast cancer has been ignored long enough as health problem by the Nigerian government and women have to take up the challenge of reducing the disease in their communities by creating awareness and spreading information about the breast cancer.
The women were given intensive education by world renowned oncologists about prevention, detection and care. The doctors also carried out clinical breast examination on the over five hundred participants at the event.
The women of Ondo state also had free access to check their blood pressure, sugar level at the Akure City Hall, where the event took place. Women were taught how to carry out self-breast examination. Other highlight of the event was the dancing competition by the secondary school students and dance presentation by the flourish dancers, the participants also had free lunch from Shoprite.
The women also participated in the raffle draw where many won prizes. Many of the participants expressed their gratitude for the event and the education that the breast cancer awareness has impacted on them.