Going full cycle for cancer

MANILA, Philippines - Five hundred kilometers is all it takes to help in the fight against cervical cancer.

This March 20 to 24, men and women will be biking from Makati to Baguio to raise funds and help spread the word about cervical cancer. Called the Tour of Hope, this activity is now in its third year and has garnered support from personalities such as athlete Jeena Lopez, beauty queen-turned-image consultant Abbygale Arenas and beauty salon owner David Charlton. 

Team David’s Salon, in particular, has been very active with the project since the day it started. “We were the first group to join and actually, Joyette (Jopson) and Kaye (Lopez) from our team helped organize the first two tours. They helped set the route and everything. We’re heavily involved,” David Charlton says.

While she doesn’t bike, Abbygale Arenas works with doctors and cervical cancer patients, giving lectures that promote cervical cancer awareness and also help those suffering to cope with the disease. Jeena Lopez, on the other hand, takes to the road, helping to raise funds by collecting pledges for the number of kilometers she cycles.

“I was actually not aware of cervical cancer and how widespread it is in the Philippines. Tour of Hope opened my eyes to it,” Jenna says.

Tour of Hope

Originally started in Thailand, Tour of Hope came to Philippine shores in 2008, with about 45 riders cycling from Vigan to Subic Bay. The next year saw 70 riders cycling from Alabang to Camarines Sur. The tour raises money by getting pledges (usually from cyclists’ family and friends) for every kilometer ridden. Five hundred pesos is enough to screen 12 women for cervical cancer. Lectures are also held in chosen areas to help locals become aware of this deadly but preventable disease. Aside from the average woman, the lectures hope to reach health workers and midwives to better spread the word about cervical cancer.

“It was nice last year. What we did, for every kilometer I finished, there would be a price to it. We were determined to finish 500 kilometers. And for the ones who were donating, it was so good. It was, ‘Hey, how many did you finish today? It put a nice spin on donation,” Jeena says.

The lowdown

Cervical cancer is the second most common female cancer worldwide, with over 80 percent of the cases occurring in developing countries like the Philippines.

Every day, 12 Filipinas succumb to this deadly, yet preventable disease. Cervical cancer is caused by the human papilloma virus or HPV that is passed on through intimate — not necessarily sexual — contact. Women diagnosed with cervical cancer usually die within five years. However, cervical cancer can be prevented through vaccination.

GlaxoSmithKline’s cervical cancer vaccine provides protection against HPV types 16 and 18, two of the most common cancer-causing human papilloma virus for at least seven years, the longest duration of protection to date.

Full circle

This year’s theme is “Tour of Hope 360: Fighting Cervical Cancer in Full Circle.” The name highlights how the event has covered the whole of Luzon. Aside from the bike tour, there will be talks on cervical cancer held in strategic locations in Clark, Tarlac, Dagupan, La Union and SM Baguio, in an effort to make more people aware of HPV. And it isn’t only women who should be concerned.

“There’s women in every man’s life and we want to keep them around as much as possible. So if I can do anything to help create awareness for the girls in my life and for the general population, then I will always do that. We have a responsibility to protect the girls in our life,” David says.

As for women themselves, prevention has become easy. Abbygale’s advice: “Have yourself vaccinated. They have already found a preventive measure, unlike for breast cancer. We are so lucky because two years ago, the vaccine was quite expensive but now, it is very affordable. Also don’t forget to live a healthy lifestyle, exercise, eat plenty of good food, smile and be happy. We have to be stress free.”

The Tour of Hope is a project of Bravehearts, a multi-sectoral coalition led by the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network and the Cancer Institute Foundation, in cooperation with the Cervical Cancer Prevention Program, Rockwell Power Plant Mall, GlaxoSmithKline and David’s Salon.

The Tour of Hope is open to everyone. “Anyone can join. There is a registration fee but with that, you get accommodation, meals, and our support as well. We have support vehicles, so if the girls are worried about getting flat tires, we have a mechanic on hand to help,” David says, “We just expect to have fun, create awareness, and finish the race.”

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For more info, e-mail joyette.jopson@gmail.com, text 0917-8827352 or log on to www.thetourofhope.com.