Indian ambassador among 8,000 taking part in cancer walkathon

Muscat: More than 8,000 citizens and residents took part in the annual cancer walkathon, organised by the Oman Cancer Association, to raise awareness about cancer patients throughout the country.
The walkathon, organised by the OCA and in its 15th year, was held at Qurum Natural Park on the evening of October 30. The gathering is the culmination of the organisation’s Pink Ribbon initiative, an awareness campaign dedicated towards promoting education and awareness about what cancer sufferers and their families must endure.
Some 8,500 people were expected to participate in the walkathon, an important annual event in the Oman Cancer Association’s calendar, which saw nearly 8,000 participate in the walk last year in support of cancer awareness, up from just 300 people who joined in when the OCA first introduced the walkathon as part of its efforts to spread education about cancer.
Regarding the walkathon, a statement from the Oman Cancer Association read, “the Oman Cancer Association is back in its 15th year, and saw a record 8,000 people take part last year. It is expected that the number of participants will increase this year to more than 8,500 people. It is a wonderful event that brings us to stand together to show all the love and support for cancer patients and survivors.”
Those who assembled for the event took part in a symbolic 2km walk, and among those was Munu Mahawar, India’s Ambassador to the Sultanate. He was joined by a team from the embassy, which included Rakesh Adlakha, the Deputy Chief of Mission, Yumkhaibam Sabir, the Political Secretary of the Embassy, as well as several other embassy staff members, who carried a banner which read, ‘Embassy of India, Muscat, joins the 15th annual walkathon to support Oman Cancer Association in combating cancer, 30th October, 2018.’
As part of the OCA’s Pink Ribbon initiatives, awareness drives were also held at four malls in the Sultanate during October, including at Muscat City Centre, Qurum City Centre, Muscat Grand Mall and Oman Avenues Mall, where the association and its volunteers, with the help of the local community, conducted educational, awareness and outreach initiatives for visitors to the malls.