Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Egypt Marked by Dynamic New Cooperation among Advocates from U.S. and Middle East

Under the Patronage of Egypt`s First Lady H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, Susan G.
Komen for the Cure Cooperates with Partners to Support Training in Alexandria,
Race for the Cure at Pyramids, Cairo Symposium
CAIRO, Egypt--(Business Wire)--
Breast cancer advocates from the United States and around the Middle East will
converge in Egypt October 21-27 for unprecedented cooperation aimed at elevating
awareness of breast cancer in the region and beyond.

The U.S. nonprofit organization Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which pioneered the
use of public footraces to break the taboo on discussing breast cancer and has
become the world`s largest breast cancer advocacy organization and source of
private funding for breast cancer research and care, is activating new
partnerships with the Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt and the Suzanne Mubarak
Regional Center for Women`s Health and Development in Alexandria, with support
from the governments of Egypt and the United States.

Among the week`s events:

* Breast cancer advocates from 10 Mideast countries will gather October 21-22 in
Alexandria for training and commemorations.
* Hundreds of citizens will turn out October 24 for the Egypt Race for the Cure®
at the legendary Great Pyramids of Giza.
* Leading researchers will convene October 24-27 in Cairo for the University of
Florida`s Multidisciplinary Symposium on Breast Disease, with a keynote address
October 25 by Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Komen for the Cure and the
World Health Organization`s Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control.

The global cooperation is under the auspices of Egypt`s First Lady, Mrs. Suzanne
Mubarak, and supported by the Suzanne Mubarak Women`s International Peace
Movement, the Egyptian Ministry of Health, and the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID), with assistance from the Institute of
International Education and the Johns Hopkins University Center for
Communication Programs.

"With nearly half a million women around the globe dying from breast cancer each
year, together we can break the silence, raise awareness about this devastating
disease, and ultimately save lives here in Egypt and throughout the world," said
Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, the founder of Komen for the Cure. "We work
together to increase public education and promote early detection so we can
reach women at the earliest stage of the disease when treatment is most
successful," added Brinker, who recently received the Presidential Medal of
Freedom and is leading a delegation of 40 U.S. advocates to learn about the
state of breast cancer in Egypt.

"Breast cancer is a concern for people all over the world. But for the United
States and our friends in the Middle East, it is the focus of specific,
concentrated, and positive action," said U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Margaret
Scobey. "The United States has placed major resources toward promoting early
detection of breast cancer and awareness about the disease. The United States
Agency for International Development, USAID, is working with the Egypt Ministry
of Health and supporting vital research into the barriers to early detection
with technical assistance from Johns Hopkins University and in cooperation with
the Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt. The United States government is also
supporting the international outreach of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. We are
fortunate that Komen for the Cure has moved onto the world stage to share its
knowledge and success."

Komen for the Cure held its first Race for the Cure in Dallas, Texas, in 1983,
growing to nearly 125 cities in the U.S. and 14 cities internationally. The
October 24 event at the Pyramids will be the first Komen Race for the Cure in
the Middle East and North Africa.

The chairman of the Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt, Dr. Mohamed Shaalan,
believes the high-level international cooperation behind the week`s events will
make a fundamental change in the work of breast cancer programs in Egypt. "The
week`s events are a demonstration of the cooperation between countries,
governments, civil society, advocates, survivors and the global community as a
whole," said Dr. Shaalan. "It shows that breast cancer has no boundaries and
reveals the beauty of the world`s unity in its fight against breast cancer. The
week will stand as a great addition to the global breast cancer movement,
especially in the Middle East."

"Women`s health and well-being are inextricably linked with the building of safe
and secure societies," says Nagwa Shoeb, Director General of the Suzanne Mubarak
Women`s International Peace Movement. "Our President and Founder, H.E. Mrs.
Mubarak, believes that to maximize the potential of women in fostering peace and
security we must ensure their human right to health care, education and economic
opportunity. We are delighted to support the upcoming breast cancer awareness
raising events and to help break the silence surrounding this disease, as early
detection will save lives."

Detailed Events Schedule

* On Wednesday, October 21, leaders of the partner organizations will join at
the Suzanne Mubarak Regional Center in Alexandria for a public ceremony called
"Breaking the Silence in Egypt: A Celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness."
Featured speakers will include Egypt Minister of Health Dr. Hatem El Gabaly,
U.S. Ambassador to Cairo Margaret Scobey, and Komen for the Cure President and
CEO Hala Moddelmog, along with Dr. Mohamed Shaalan, chairman of the Breast
Cancer Foundation of Egypt (BCFE); Dr. Dorreya Salem, director of Egypt`s
National Breast Cancer Screening Program; Nagwa Shoeb, director-general of the
Suzanne Mubarak Women`s International Peace Movement; Dr. Hassan Sallam,
director of the Suzanne Mubarak Regional Center for Women`s Health and
Development (SMC); and an Egyptian breast cancer survivor.
* On Thursday, October 22, the Mubarak Center will host a Regional Training
Seminar on Breast Cancer Support Groups led by Susan G. Komen for the Cure for
30 Egyptian and Mideast regional breast cancer advocates. This practical,
hands-on seminar will provide information and tools that can be used to start
support groups and serve as an opportunity to discuss the unique needs of
countries in the region.
* From October 22 to 27, Komen for the Cure Founder Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker
will lead a high-level delegation of advocates, donors and breast cancer
survivors to gain an understanding of the state of breast cancer in Egypt
through first-hand visits with medical professionals and patients. Delegates
will also witness the impact of collaboration between leading non-governmental
and governmental organizations.
* On Saturday, October 24, at 10 a.m. Komen, BCFE and the Women`s Peace Movement
will hold the 2009 Egypt Race for the Cure at the Great Pyramids of Giza. A
1.5-km run and walk across the legendary site will be followed by a parade for
all participants and families. Families and teams affiliated with local
institutions will attend. An awards ceremony will recognize breast-cancer
survivors. Live music will follow. Advance registration and shuttle service is
available at sites around Cairo: For information, phone (02) 3536-6066 or visit
http://www.bcfe.org/en/view.asp?SecID=117.
* On Saturday, October 24 from 8:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., the Grand Hyatt Hotel in
Cairo will host a public forum in connection with the 15th Annual
Multidisciplinary Symposium on Breast Disease (see below). The forum is an
opportunity for individuals, survivors of breast cancer, health personnel who
work in the field of breast cancer, as well as local and national public figures
on the national, to pose questions that may help clarify concepts about breast
cancer and strategies for combating the disease.
* From Sunday, October 25 through Tuesday, October 27, the Grand Hyatt Hotel in
Cairo will host the University of Florida`s 15th Annual Multidisciplinary
Symposium on Breast Disease with the support of BCFE, Egypt`s National Cancer
Institute, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the American Cancer Society, and others.
The purpose of the Symposium is to bring together leading medical experts from
around the globe to address disparities in quality of care, preventative
practices and clinical outcomes associated with breast cancer. Ambassador
Brinker will deliver the keynote address at the opening session of the Symposium
on Sunday, October 25 at 10:00 a.m.

For more details about the week`s events, see the Susan G. Komen for the Cure
web site at http://ww5.komen.org/Content.aspx?id=6442451230.

About the Presenting Partners

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan
G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In
1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global
breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest
grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save
lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find
the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure Series, the
organization has invested nearly $1.5 billion to fulfill the promise, becoming
the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast
cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure,
breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

The Suzanne Mubarak Women`s International Peace Movement, founded in 2003, is a
non-profit, non-governmental international organization whose principal goal is
to advocate and work towards peace and human security, and to empower women and
youth to participate as key influencers, change agents and active partners in
peace processes. For more information, visit www.womenforpeaceinternational.org.

The Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt (BCFE) is a non-profit organization
dedicated to fighting breast cancer in Egypt. BCFE is registered under the
Ministry of Social Solidarity. The organization`s ultimate objective is life
without breast cancer. BCFE started its work with the community in 2004 by
targeting women from all social and economic strata. Individually, they
represent health care professionals, breast cancer survivors, and local
advocates. Collectively, they are a driving force to bring breast cancer
awareness, education, and screening to Egyptian women. BCFE`s services include
breast cancer awareness, early detection and patient programs as well as support
groups. For more information, see www.bcfe.org.

About the Supporting Partners

The Suzanne Mubarak Regional Center for Women`s Health & Development (SMC) is a
training and research center active in all areas of women`s health and
development situated in Alexandria, Egypt. It offers activities to women at
large and to all professionals working in the area of women`s health and
development in Egypt and friendly neighboring countries. The SMC is governed by
a Board of Trustees headed by H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt,
and is under the direct control of H.E. the Minister of Health. For more
information, visit www.smcalex.com.

The Ministry of Health of Egypt provides overall coordination of policy
formulation, national data collection, quality control, monitoring and
evaluation of the National Women`s Health Program (NWHP). The National Breast
Cancer Screening Program, a component of the NWHP, was launched in 2007 to
improve the early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Under the patronage
of H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, the screening program utilizes mobile vans and
static mammography units in general hospitals and targets women in underserved
areas in Egypt. For more information, visit www.mohp.gov.eg.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent federal
government agency that has a long history of extending a helping hand to those
people overseas struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster, or
striving to live in a free and democratic country. USAID has worked closely with
the Government of Egypt and local partners for over three decades in
collaborative efforts to improve the quality of life for all Egyptians. Progress
has been achieved through investments and technical assistance in the areas of
education, economic growth, health, water management, agriculture, environment
and natural resources, antiquities, and democracy and governance. US economic
assistance to Egypt through USAID has totaled more than $28 billion since 1975.
For more information, see http://egypt.usaid.gov.

The Johns Hopkins University/Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for
Communication Programs provides technical assistance to Communication for
Healthy Living project funded by USAID Egypt as a collaboration with the
Egyptian government. A pioneer in the field of strategic, research-based
communication for behavior change and health promotion, the center has been
working on national health campaigns in Egypt since the mid-1980s, building on
successful predecessor projects through the cooperative efforts of USAID and the
Government of Egypt that began in the mid-1970s. For more information, visit
www.jhuccp.org.

The Institute of International Education (IIE) manages the Susan G. Komen for
the Cure Global Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness. Founded in 1919, IIE is
one of the world`s most experienced global higher education and professional
exchange organizations. IIE has long worked to implement training programs,
particularly through its close relationships with universities, government
agencies, and NGOs dedicated to human capacity development. For more
information, visit www.iie.org.

Media contact in the U.S.:
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Julie Bernstein, (+1) 240-601-5562
jbernstein@komen.org
or
Media contact in Egypt:
U.S. Embassy in Cairo
Margaret B. White, (+2 02) 2797-3501
whitemb@state.gov

Copyright Business Wire 2009