Tinago, RAFI Kick Off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Opening of ‘Pink Street’

Barangay Tinago, Cebu City and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. launched Wednesday, September 30, their joint campaign to help increase the public’s awareness on breast cancer prevention with the ceremonial opening of Lopez Jaena Street as “Pink Street.”

Adorned with banderitas (buntings), tarpaulins, ribbons, and balloons—all in pink—that give the street a “fiesta” mood, the Pink Street intends to serve as a reminder to Cebuanos to be aware about cancer, specifically breast cancer, and that they could always tap the barangay and the community in this endeavor.

The Pink Street campaign is also a call to Cebuanos to work together with their community, color their own streets pink and help spread awareness on the dreaded disease.

With 657 deaths or 49 percent of the 1,349 cases recorded in 2003 to 2007, breast cancer has been identified by the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of RAFI-Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) as the leading cause of death among Cebuano women.

The Pink Street is just one of several activities that RAFI has lined up for October, which is breast cancer awareness month.

On October 3, the 12th run of an annual advocacy walk will also be held, kicking off at the Plaza Sugbo (across Magellan’s Cross) up to Plaza Independencia.

Dubbed as the Mega Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness, the walk will start at 5:30 p.m. At reaching Plaza independencia, veteran actor Tirso Cruz III will speak about his struggle in 2014 against lung cancer.

Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness is a unique collective advocacy campaign focused on early screening and detection of breast cancer through monthly breast self-examination and mammography.

Participants of the walk are encouraged to wear pink and to also join the “Celebrate Life with Mega Cebu” program at Plaza Independencia that will start immediately after the walk. RAFI is giving prizes to the best selfie and ussie posted by participants on RAFI’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Moonwalk is organized by RAFI-EJACC in partnership with the Cebu City Government through the Task Force Cancer of Cebu City, Department of Health 7, Destiny Medical Fund Incorporated, Goldilocks, Philippine Spring Water Resources Inc., Alcordo Advertising, Cebu Cancer Fight Incorporated, I CAN SERVE Foundation, and CAN with GOD.

For inquiries about Moonwalk and EJACC and its services, please contact 256-3287 or 254-6351 and look for Gina Mariquit, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph, or follow @rafi.org.ph on Twitter.