Ribbons for a cause

Consumer-loan provider Easy Buy recently joined efforts to raise awareness about breast cancer by creating pink ribbons under its “We…Care” campaign, launching them at a press conference at Chulalongkorn Hospital’s Wongwanich Building.

Assoc Prof Dr Kris Chatamra, the founder and the head of the hospital’s Queen Sirikit Centre and Takeharu Uematsu, chief executive officer of Easy Buy introduced the campaign before handing over the microphones to Kemmanit “Pancake” Jamikorn, her mother Nounamong, Panchalee Penchart and speakers Pawarisa “Wan” Penchart and Grace Mahadamrongkul for “Breast Cancer … the Unexpected Disease for Thai Women”. 

The five ladies urged the public to join the campaign to prevent breast cancer by providing knowledge and understanding to everyone they knew.

“This campaign is being launched because we recognise the importance of breast cancer and also see how many Thai women overlook it. According to the statistics, a high number of Thai women are suffering from this disease. Environmental, dietary, and emotional factors all speed up the process of the cancer. We must be more aware,” says Takeharu.

The campaign starts by providing knowledge to Easy Buy employees about the possible harm they risk doing to themselves if they neglect or do not recognise the importance of annual breast cancer screening. The pink ribbons – worn as brooches – serve as a reminder and are being sold at Bt50 each.

“The pink ribbon is an international symbol for making people aware of, campaigning for and preventing breast cancer. It also marks the intention of the foundation to honour the command of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit to Dr Kris to help and cure Thai women with breast cancer. However, the processes of caring, curing, and operating on the breasts of patients still need further research in order to develop efficient and quick breast cancer screening and treatment without radical mastectomy. 

"Not removing the breast reduces the mental effect on the patients and offers them quality lives in the long term,” says the Japanese CEO.

Easy Buy donates money equal to the total sales volume of the ribbons to the centre to provide financial support for further research. Both old and new Umay Plus cardholders interested in donating can find more information at Umay Plus shops.