'Moonwalk' for breast cancer awareness

CEBU, Philippines - In observance of Breast Awareness Month this month, the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will hold the 8th annual “Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness” under the full moon on Oct. 12.

“Since Oct. 12 is a weekday, we would like to inform the public of a possible traffic congestion that might happen on that day from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.,” said EJACC program director Ronald delos Reyes.

The Moonwalk will assemble an estimated 3,000 people on the lot beside Pag-Ibig Fund Tower in Cebu Business Park at 5 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m., they will walk to The Walk in Asiatown I.T. Park, passing by Archbishop Reyes Avenue. At the Asiatown I.T. Park, participants will form a pink human ribbon. A short program and Pink Rock Concert will follow.

Moonwalk is open to the public. Participants are encouraged to wear pink shirts.

Moonwalk, a unique advocacy campaign of RAFI held every full moon of October, aims to promote the importance of observing monthly breast self-examination for women aged 20 and beyond.

It is also a campaign of RAFI to get more people to be aware on the importance of early cancer detection and prevention. At the same time, it is a tribute to the victims and survivors of breast cancer.

“We hold Moonwalk during a full moon and Oct. 12 is when the moon is at its fullest this month. Full moon, because it is symbolically linked to the woman,” delos Reyes explained.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Cebuano women, based on the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of RAFI.

From 1993 to 2007, Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of RAFI recorded a total of 3,005 reported breast cancer cases in Metro Cebu. EJACC found a continuous increase of “Most of the participants are cancer patients, women from the barangays, and the youth. We encourage everyone, from all walks of life, to join us in this year’s Moonwalk,” delos Reyes said.

Moonwalk is organized in collaboration with The Walk and in coordination with Ayala Center Cebu and I CAN SERVE. It is supported by the Cebu City Government, Department of Health Region 7, Asiatown I.T. Park, Cebu Business Park, Allied Banking Corporation, Philippine National Bank, Cebu Praedia Development Corporation, Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente, KAHAYAG Network of Cancer Support Group, and Destiny Medical Fund, Inc.

Moonwalk is an initiative of EJACC under the Integrated Development focus area of RAFI, addressing health issues of communities in order to create a better quality of life. (FREEMAN)