KUNAK FOUNDATION PINK OCTOBER PRESS RELEASE

‎The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women in their life time. Every 3 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with invasive breast cancer world wide which is a huge number of women that are our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. Considering that women are the home makers and care givers in most homes and Men get breast cancer too which is rare but there with the same symptoms as that of the women, we have and will continue creating awareness. Cancer diagnosis does not affect only the fighter but family and friends also and sometimes total strangers with compassion. Cancer affects people more than malaria, thyphoid, TB, HIV/AIDS combined but it has not been given the attention it deserves which brings a lot of stress and burden to most families, families such as mine.
Kunak Foundation has gone on courtesy visits to every Administration since 2006 on health care and from 2010 to date on Cancer Issues to the Kaduna State Government asking the government to look into the pain and suffering of cancer fighters and survivors. We spoke about the importance of making a policy for Cancer using the existing structures of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health but we are still praying and waiting for our prayer to be answered.
It is sad to say that we don't have a place that we can run to as cancer fighters or survivors fighting the disease and complications daily. Once you are diagnosed with cancer, you are 100% on your own. 80% of the cancer fighters die not because of the cancer itself but as a result of lack of funds. If you are lucky to have people that care enough about you, they contribute if not, you are left to faith. We pray daily for a cure and trusting God for total healing.
Early detection saves lives, so we advocate and create awareness in Kunak Foundation for young adults ages 20-29 to have a clinical exam every 3 years and Breast self exam twice a week. Ages 40 and above both men and women should have an annual clinical breast exam prior to a Mammogram, followed by a Mammogram and a daily self exam in the bedroom or the shower. The fact that we are aware that breast cancer exist is not enough, going for a test, sharing the information with your family, friends and community is a big step in the right direction. Our prayer is for God to show us a cure soon to eradicate this suffering.
MMM Nigeria sponsored us for the first time in nine years for our pink october campaign. It is important to have such a partnership that brings hope, support, courage and love to fighters. I am honored and humbled with this partnership and the beginning of many great things to come.
Kunak Foundation is distributing breast cancer self exam flyers, media chat to create more awareness, two Football matches by male and female teams. Victoria Kazah VS Ethel Ero-Phillips (both breast cancer survivors) and Jerry Adams VS Emmanuel Gideon to create male breast cancer awareness on Friday 21/10/2016 at Karatudu primary school, Gonin Gora @2:30pm. We are rounding up with a 2kms walk on Friday 28/10/2016 from Police College round about to Ranchers Bees stadium independence way Kaduna @2:30pm. Please be our guests for the Pink October Campaign. Please note that breast cancer does not end at the end of October so the awareness also does not end. No one fights Cancer alone, with Prayers, love, strength, hope, faith and the support of our family and friends, we are in this fight together to the end.

KICKING BREAST CANCER OUT By Shawuya Buru-nno Anthony.

It was a clash between experience and youthful exuberance yesterday 21st October 2016 at the L?E.A Primary School field Karatudu, Kaduna, when men and women

came together as KUNAK FOUNDATION organised  FOOTBALL MATCHES in a bid to create awareness on BREAST CANCER.
The football matches saw experience and exuberance come face to face when women aged 40 above tagged Team Victoria Kazah, clashed in a football encounter with women aged 40 below tagged team Ethel Ero-Philips. (Both women are Breast Cancer Survivors). In like manner, the men had Team Jerry Adams treading tackles with Team Emmanuel Gideon.
The women's encounter presented lots of drama and entertainment from start to finish as the ball kept rolling from one direction to the other with women of all sizes and shapes pursuing it. There were lots of funny falls and dangerous swings of legs that left other women spectators shreiking with exhilaration. The under 40s featured a lady who must have played professional football due to her sheer talent and firepower. But as the saying goes, a tree does not make a forest, all her effort only got blown in fruitless kicks by her teammates.
The female competition took a more entertaining dimension as the ball became like a handbag and trust women with handbags...they ran only to grab the ball and head towards the post. One spectator asked, were they playing rugby? The match ended in a one all draw but the older women took the day by their endurance and experience.
Then the men's clash followed which became the epic of the day. Earlier on, James Kanyip was seen drawing up a line up of the 40s above and in a Mourinho style of things, he was calm and calculative. The 40s above featured some eminent old tamers in the likes of Jerry Adams of the famous (Bashonshon Bombers) who was team captain, the gentle and brilliant Reuben Buhari who manned the post of the 40s above, and the silent dribbler Alex who combined skill and experience to shatter the defence of the young boys. Representing the Parish Priest of St. Monica Karatudu(MoreHill) Fr. Edward Sati was Rev. Fr. Vincent Tanko who also featured for the 40s above.
The under 40s on their part were full of raw energy and speed outrunning the older folks in an Ussain Bolt speed only to end the balls in the air away from the target. Yet, they slotted two early goals that sent shivers in the spines of the older folks but the coach was equal to the task. With a little change of one or two players, the 40s above equalized and were awarded a penalty to end the day in a 3-2 victory to the 40s above. A roadside commentator said 'anyi ma yaran pdp ne kawai.'
The younger team saw the likes of Midat Joe, Kazzahyetdikan Mousa Immanuel, Clement Dan Juma(of Manchester United, karatudu) and Emmanuel Gideon the
 leader of the 40s below.
The two matches clearly brought out one thing very important that team work remains the best way to succeed in global efforts and local action against breast cancer.
The amiable and ever hopeful and courageous woman behind the initiative is the founder of KUNAK FOUNDATION Miss Nyan Bavo. Her foundation is aimed at Developing rural communities one village at a time. The event of yesterday was tagged KUNAK FOUNDATION PINK OCTOBER FOOTBALL.
Miss Bavo was full of smiles and obviously very happy with the turnout for the event. On the faces of many also were smiles of satisfaction that provided a sure relief in these harsh recession times. It was also an educable moment for many especially the writer of this piece who never knew that men too can have breast cancer.

*Fr. Shawuya is Deputy Director, Media Service Centre, kaduna.*