October 2021 www.womanthismonth.com 54 PEOPLE | interview Following the tumultuous effects of the pandemic for the majority of last year, the world seems to be adapting and regaining its footing with life slowly, yet surely, approaching a pre-COVID pace. Despite the worldwide standstill, the need for healthcare and awareness in certain aspects remained the same throughout. This was especially in the case of life-threatening conditions such as breast cancer – the main focus of Think Pink: Bahrain Breast Cancer Society. The non-profit organisation was founded by Dr. Julie Sprakel in 2004 and has since raised invaluable funds that would better support the Kingdom in regards to Breast Cancer awareness, education and research. “It’s been nearly 18 years since I founded Think Pink and its most notable achievements to-date all depend on perspective. I arrived in Bahrain in 2002 and soon founded the organisation as I believed there was a need for breast cancer awareness in the Kingdom,” explains Dr. Sprakel. “Since then, and moving forward, the main focus of campaigns will always be to raise awareness,” she says. #DinarForDistance Explained The Think Pink 2021 campaign, #DinarForDistance, aims to not only raise funds for the cause and awareness, but also encourage people to move. The idea for the campaign came to Dr. Sprakel while she was placed in hotel quarantine in Australia for two weeks. “I decided to walk back and forth in my room, once a day, for the duration of my quarantine and managed to cover 42 kilometers in that time. We didn’t want to do a walkathon this year in order to be responsible and avoid crows, so I realised that this is a great way to get people to move,” she says. Those wishing to participate can register through the Think Pink website, and get their family, friends or workplace to sponsor them. “The pledge is very much their own with #DinarForDistance as the focus of the campaign is movement. People can swim, cycle, walk, jog and getting moving in any way they see fit. Staying healthy through fitness is said to contribute to reductions in noncommunicable diseases such as breast cancer, and also contributes to mental health, so encouraging people to move works well with our cause,” she says, adding that the campaign is already receiving a positive response with people registering even in September. At the end of the campaign, and following the collection of donations, Think Pink will calculate the total distance that the community covered for the cause. “I was in Australia to say my final goodbye to my father, Frank, so this campaign is very much dedicated to him too,” she adds. Digital Awareness One of the most significant developments in the organisation’s drive to raise awareness has A CHAMPION OF CHANGE Founder and President of Think Pink Bahrain, Julie Sprakel, tells Farah Baig about the NGO’s latest campaign – #DinarForDistance.
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