Nagpur: A breast cancer awareness bike rally emphasising the importance of early diagnosis, thereby encouraging women to seek timely counselling for treatment and positive outcomes was organised by Department of Surgery, AIIMS Nagpur, with the guidance of executive director AIIMS Nagpur, Prof Dr Prashant P Joshi. This was in collaboration with ‘Pink partner’, a unit of central India NAVODAY alumni association, IMA Nagpur, Association of Surgeons Nagpur, and health department, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The initiative witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 300 participants.The rally was flagged off by the organising chairperson Prof Dr Siddharth P Dubhashi, Professor and head, Department of Surgery, AIIMS Nagpur, at IMA Hall, Nagpur.Several distinguished guests graced the occasion, including Dr Sachin Gathe, president IMA, Nagpur, Dr Deepa Jahagirdar, president, ASN, Dr Deepak Selokar, chief officer of health, NMC, Dr Sangita Renge, dermatologist and homoeopathic practitioner, Dr Anirudh Deoke, Professor and head, Department of Community Medicine, NKPSIMS Nagpur, past ASN presidents, past IMA presidents and officers from RST Cancer Hospital Nagpur. Participants carried placards displaying awareness messages.The purpose of the rally was to create awareness about early diagnosis and how complete treatment can save lives and bring happiness to families. The rally witnessed the active participation of all faculty, PG students of Department of Surgery and several UG students of AIIMS Nagpur, members of the general public, and Navodaya alumni from Nagpur, IMA and ASN members.Dr Siddharth P Dubhashi delivered the welcome address, highlighting the importance of breast cancer awareness campaigns, fostering community solidarity in the important mission.The organising secretary, Dr Prashant Sawarkar, additional professor, Department of Surgery, AIIMS Nagpur, delivered a comprehensive educational session on breast cancer, explaining its causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnostic methods, and available treatment options. The highlight of his presentation was the need to “Become a BREAST CANCER FRIEND.”Breast cancer survivors, whose courage and determination served as inspiration, were felicitated. The survivors shared their personal experiences and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the doctors and healthcare team at AIIMS Nagpur for their treatment, care, and support. A short educational film reinforcing the importance of compassion, awareness, and collective responsibility in supporting breast cancer patients, prepared by Dr Sangita Renge, was played.The programme was anchored by Dr Divish Saxena. The enthusiastic involvement of participants from different sections of society reflected the growing recognition that cancer awareness is not solely the responsibility of healthcare professionals but a collective social responsibility. The programme concluded with a renewed commitment to spreading awareness about breast cancer and promoting early detection and complete treatment.
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