Bikers pedal vs cervical cancer

There’s no letting up for “Tour of Hope” bikers in informing the public that there is a way to defeat cervical cancer.

If last Wednesday’s launch is to be an indication of this year’s Tour of Hope, participants are in for an exciting, enjoyable, meaningful cycling event once again come March.

Tour of Hope is a cycling event which aims to increase awareness of cervical cancer premised on the belief that being informed is being armed and empowered to fight the disease which is the second most common cancer worldwide (first is breast cancer).

This year’s Tour of Hope which has adopted the theme “Fighting Cervical cancer in Full Circle” will traverse Tarlac, Dagupan, La Union, Dagupan and Baguio on March 20 to 24.

This is a project of BraveHearts, a multi-sectoral coalition led by the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP, the Philippine General Hospital Cancer Institute Foundation (PGH-CIF), Team David Salon, whose cyclists will lead the tour, Rockwell Powerplant Mall, and GlaxoSmithKline.

We will write more about this as the Tour of Hope nears.

Meanwhile, last Friday was another joyful event for anti-cervical cancer advocates. CECAP, in its objective to raise the level of quality of services of support networks, gave out Best Practices Awards. Muntinlupa harvested a lot of awards to the delight of Leah San Pedro, wife of Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro.

Muntinlupa is an example where officials, Rep. Ruffy Biazon (Liberal Party) and San Pedro (Lakas) do not allow politics to get in the way of the their service to the people.

Awards won by Muntinlupa include Best Mobile Service; Best in Political Commitment and Sustainability; and Best Audio Visual Presentation.

This one would warm the hearts of advocates of woman power: Special Awards were given to the Leah San Pedro and Trina Biazon, wife of Ruffy Biazon, for the extra-mile that they did in pushing their husbands for CECAP as a flagship program.

CECAP also gave awards for legislatures who are active in promoting ant-cervical cancer programs. Aside from Ruffy Biazon, CECAP recognized the efforts of Rep. Cynthia Villar and Senator Pia Cayetano.

The municipality of Tanza, Cavite was cited as the Best Site;

Cagayan de Oro (Xavier University-Community Health Care Center) got the award for Promising Regional Center; Best in Infection Control and Best Poster.

The municipality of Minglanilla, Cebu, which got the grand prize, was also best in Documentation.

Award good personnel performance were also given. Best Health Provider was Gloria Llegunas and Best Municipal Health Officer Dr. Ruth Punzalan, prize. Extra Mile Award were given to Dr. Ruth Beltran and Dr. Belinda Panares.

CECAP appreciate the contribution of media and gave awards for Best Feature Article to Rowena Bautista Alcaraz and Best TV Feature to Unang Hirit by GMA 7. Inquirer’s Rina David was cited for here articles on cervical cancer.

I’m thankful to CECAP for appreciating my articles about their efforts to fight the killer disease.

CECAP also recognized the contribution of support group such as The Cervical Cancer Support Group led Professor Josefina dela Cruz Brave Hearts for raising the public’s level of awareness about cervical cancer through the Tour of Hope.

Prizes include cash, cryotherapy set, sterilizer, clinic kits and instruments, Zoe models, Laptop computers and gift certificates.

Captions:

1. PGH, CECAP staff with broadcast journalist TJ Manotok.
2. Broadcaster Trisha Chiongbian, model and beauty expert Abbygale Arenas and biker Jeena Lopez and her twins: Sabrina and Isis.
3. PGH, CECAP staff with Abbygale Arenas.
4. David Carlton of David Salon with Dr, Cecilia Llave, chair of the PGH Cancer Institute.