Beyond October: Think Pink. Live Green

Manju Ramanan

“In a world full of entertainment events, it is always a gratifying challenge to venture into an event that inspires and empowers all. The Beyond October Cancer Campaign that I started in 2014 as a Can Defeat Cancer Campaign is just that,” says Manju Ramanan, a journalist, author and Founder of the Beyond October Cancer Campaign.

The platform exclusive to cancer warriors, encourages them to narrate their stories in an effort to break the space between the audience and them. It started 10 years ago, with the venues being the Beauty Connections Spa SZR, followed by Danube Home,  Radisson Blu, Deira, Crowne Plaza, Dubai Marina and Gargash Hospital, Dubai. In its 6th edition, Beyond October: Think Pink, Live Green continues to raise awareness about breast cancer also champions sustainable living – a dual call to action that intertwines health and wellness with environmental consciousness. Beyond October: Think Pink, Live Green was hosted at the Dubai International Arts Centre, Jumeirah.

The participants got the audience teary eyed with their cancer warrior stories of grit and courage. While cancer warrior Fiza Khan spoke of battling two cancers – thyroid cancer and breast cancer at the same time, Umaima Tinwala spoke of losing hair and going bald and how she decided to wear it with pride. ” I often found random people asking me if they could give me a hug. The world is that kind,” she said. Chelo Gagarin who is a special educator mentioned how her students healed her during her times of crisis showering her with love and affection. Dr Seema who is a gynecologist went about her task of delivering babies while attending chemo sessions. ” I wore a wig so that my patients were not alarmed,” she added. Tigitsi who broke down mid session was cheered by all her friends and the crowd to put her back on her feet and Jenny warmed their hearts by saying that she cured her cancer through treatments and prayer. “I prayed that I didnt want cancer in my body and I prayed fervently,” she said. Sandra Martinho spoke of her book, ” The Dance of Life,” where she talks of battling cancer and the steps she took to deal with it and Binu Sivan spoke of being a cancer warrior herself and losing a child to cancer. Binu has started a theatre foundation in the name of her daughter Sakshi – The Sakshi Verkot Memorial Theatre Festival. Together, the warriors faced the audience bravely and narrated stories that were very personal and close to their hearts – in the process inspiring the audience with their grit and resilience. Indian actor Kalpana Iyer and Sudanese actor Rik Aby were present at the event alongwith other dignitaries.

An evening where art met purpose and story telling connected everyone in one bond of humanity.

Also published on Medium.

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