Former Miss World and Bollywood queen Aishwarya Rai will visit Pakistan by the end of this month
as a goodwill ambassador to raise funds for the recently-launched campaign against breast
cancer.
The campaign known as 'Pink Ribbon' (to create awareness about breast cancer) has been launched by
an NGO, the Women Empowerment Group, last month.
Rai is visiting at the invitation of the group, local daily Dawn quoted Omar Aftab, a representative of the
'Pink Ribbon' as saying.
He said Rai had shown deep concern over the increasing number of breast cancer patients in Pakistan
and lack of awareness about the disease.
The former Miss World, he said, would stay in Pakistan for two days. During her stay, she would attend a
dinner in Islamabad for fund raising.
Aftab said Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is also expected to visit Pakistan in
March for the awareness campaign.
Pink Ribbon is an international symbol for support for breast cancer awareness for more than 10 years.
Every year in October, citizens are urged to wear pink ribbons in honour of the women fighting against
breast cancer.
According to a study of the Pakistan Medical Association, 2003, Pakistan has the highest rate of breast
cancer among Asian population.
More than 35,000 women with breast cancer reportedly approached the Shaukat Khanam Cancer
Hospital in 2004.
Ash to fight breast cancer!
Thursday, October 07, 2004 13:18 IST
