Tour of Hope 2011: Saving 500 Women Against Cervical Cancer

To be a part of The Tour of Hope 2011 – 500: Going the Xtra Mile Against Cervical Cancer, please email Joyette Jopson at joyette.jopson@gmail.com or contact her at 0917-8827352.





How far would you go to save 500 women?
“Tour of Hope 2011- 00: Going the Xtra Mile Against Cervical Cancer,” cyclists will take 500 kilometers in 5 days. The bikers  will undertake the challenging 5-day journey from Manila to Laoag in order to help raise funds for cervical cancer prevention vaccination drives and seminars.

Tour of Hope 2011, in partnership with Bravehearts, Team David’s Salon and GlaxoSmithKline, is going to vaccinate a total of 500 women during the tour.

In a country where cervical cancer claims the lives of 12 women everyday, the need to fight this disease has only become more urgent over the years.


However, if you think that The Tour of Hope is all about the bikers, think again. Over the past two years, the event organizers have formed partnerships with local government units such as those of Tarlac, Dagupan, Pampanga, La Union, and Baguio in order to conduct lectures during each stopover of the tour to local communities with marginalized groups who display poor health-seeking behavior.


What’s in Store for The Tour of Hope 2011

 

Aside from the challenging journey, The Tour of Hope has always been known for bringing its participants to scenic locations such as Vigan, Zambales, and Camarines Sur. This year is no exception. The Tour of Hope 2011 - 500: Going the Xtra Mile Against Cervical Cancer will kick off at the TriNoma Mall in Quezon City on May 28, 2011.


The first stop will be at Tarlac City, Tarlac. It is the home of President Noynoy Aquino’s ancestral house and Mount Pinatubo, where adventure-seeking 4x4 wheel drivers try their skills, and hikers visit the crater. The tour will then continue to San Fernando, La Union, where the renowned La Union Botanical Gardens is located. Afterwards, the bikers will head to Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, where historical churches and ancestral homes that reflect the beauty of old world architecture can be found. The fourth stop will be Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, where tourists often visit the Juan Luna Shrine. There, visitors can get a glimpse of the award-winning Spolarium painter’s life through vintage photographs and household artifacts. The final stop for this year’s Tour of Hope is Paoay, where bikers will get to see the unique blend of Spanish, Chinese, and architecture represented by Paoay Church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


The last leg of the tour will feature celebrity bikers such as Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, Marvin Kiefer, Rovilson Fernandez, Troy Montero, Aubrey Miles, Will Devaughn, Richie Hardin, Richard Herrera, Janna Victoria, Gem Padilla, Anthony Pangilinan, and David Charlton. They will be lending their star power to draw attention to a good cause. In addition, Tessa Prieto-Valdes is currently working on a special project that will also help raise funds for cervical cancer prevention.


As part of the preparations for the upcoming Tour of Hope, there will also be a Mini Tour of Hope that will be held on May 7 at Filinvest, Alabang. This is a great way for biking enthusiasts to show their support for the anti-cervical cancer advocacy, and everyone is invited to join.

“On behalf of Bravehearts, I’d like to encourage everyone to join the fight against cervical cancer,” Abbygale Arenas-de Leon said. “For all the women, do it for your families and loved ones. And for all the men, I encourage you to support the cervical cancer prevention advocacy for your mothers, sisters, and daughters. With your help, thousands of lives can be saved.”

For further inquiries, please email braveheartsphilippines@gmail.com.

Things to Know About Cervical Cancer

 

The Tour of Hope: 

Continues to Push the Pedal against 

Cervical Cancer

The Tour of Hope:  A cycling tour event which aims to spread cervical cancer awareness, individuals from different walks of life are rallying to stop the spread of one of the leading women killers here in the country.

Cervical Cancer:  Second most common female cancer worldwide.

Signs and Symptoms:  Early Cervical Cancer produces no signs or symptoms.

HPV:   Human Papilloma Virus or HPV is the cause of cervical cancer.

HPV VACCINE:  GlaxoSmithKline’s cervical cancer vaccine provides significant protection for women against the two most common cancer-causing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types (HPV types 16 and 18).

The GSK cervical cancer vaccine has not demonstrated the need for a booster shot or a 4th dose even after more than 7 years of vaccination. Together, HPV types 16 and 18, together, are responsible for over 70 percent of cervical cancer cases in Asia Pacific.

GSK’s cervical cancer vaccine has also shown efficacy against 12 other cancer-causing HPV types beyond HPV 16 and 18, which includes HPV strain 45 – another strain which prevalently causes cervical cancer among Filipinas.

Designed to last for both young and mature women, females from 10 years old onwards can be vaccinated using GSK’s cervical cancer vaccine.

Bravehearts:   A non-government organization dedicated to raise awareness on cervical cancer prevention. Bravehearts is currently supported by a growing number of women, including prominent personalities such as Sen. Loren Legarda, Rina Jimenez David, Ellen Tordesillas, Atty.Gaby Concepcion, Tessa Prieto David, Abbygale Arenas de Leon and Suzi Entrata

Cancer Institute Foundation (CIF):   Founded in 2001, the CIF is a non-stock, non-profit organization based in Manila, Philippines which supports the Cancer Institute (CI) of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and its accredited cancer management network institutions with clinical, research, advocacy and financial assistance for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

The Cervical Cancer Prevention (CECAP) Network Program:   One of CIF's major programs which is in collaboration with numerous health organizations, both in the government and private sectors, and other concerned local and international groups all working together to eradicate cervical cancer in the country. The CECAP provides a comprehensive approach in combating this disease, through advocating proper education about healthy lifestyle, providing quality cervical cancer services such as counseling, screening linked to treatment and vaccination and through research.