Beyond October celebrates the lives of cancer warriors who have been resilient in their fight with dreaded cancer. It is a platform where women with cancer narrate their stories of courage. This is the sixth year of the campaign and I am happy that there is a community of breast cancer warriors I work with who are my friends. Each year, it is heartening to see them become bolder, outspoken, more confident and be at ease with addressing audiences and narrate their own stories. While some came up with hand written notes to be read out to the crowd, others spoke their hearts out eliciting tears from the audience. Some broke down reliving their tough lives and some of the shy ones spoke. Here’s to all the cancer warriors we know, who fight a battle silently with their own bodies and are ever ready to help each other in times of need. October celebrates them but their inspiring lives and stories go Beyond October.
Ghada Sawalmah CEO of Gargash Hospital LLC, Dubai, UAE and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Husnia Gargash Fertility Gynaecology & Obstetrics Centre, Sharjah, UAE addressed the crowd.She and her team successfully launched Gargash Hospital in September 2019. She is an active proponent of women empowerment, and this is evident from the fact that 65% of her staff are females, of which 80% are in management roles.
Ghada Sawalmah CEO of Gargash Hospital LLC, Dubai, UAE and Mr Ahmed Al Falasi, Hope Maker of the UAE
Events like cancer campaigns need the support of the community. I have had some stellar people who have supported the cause. Mr Amit Kumar Garg, CEO of Bricks and Woods Real Estate sponsored the event. Sameer Khan, CEO of Kingsmaker Events for his rock solid support, my dear cancer warriors and friends. Mr Ahmed al Falasi who is called the Homemaker of the UAE and has helped build several hospitals in Africa for dialysis patients graced the event and so did Bollywood actor Ms Kalpana Iyer.
Amit Garg, CEO, Bricks and Woods Real Estate honors cancer warrior Shadaab Khan
Sameer Khan, CEO of Kingmaker Events, a steadfast supporter of Beyond October
Our goody bags and gifts have poured in generously from several people – Gargash Hospital, Hemani Herbals, Biori, Maroof, Zoha and Priyanka. Blogger and artist Ritu Chaturvedi volunteered to hand paint paint the mementoes handed to the cancer warriors.
Ritu Chaturvedi hand-painted all trophies of the cancer warriors, strikes a pose with them and Mr Ahmad Al Falasi, Hope Maker of the UAE.
Cancer warriors take to the stage to narrate their stories
Actor Tahaa Shah addresses the audience
Bollywood actor Taahaa Shah , who was last seen in the Zee series Taj: Divided by Blood where he played the role of Emperor Akbar’s son Murad and won critical acclaim marked his presence. So did the charming and beautiful actor/dentist Bebika Dhurve of Big Boss Fame, who came all the way from Ras al Khaimah to be part of Beyond October.
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