After the impactful launch of “The Tale of Pink Ribbon” on 7 April 2024, the same dedicated group of 53 Bachelor of Communication (Honours) Public Relations students, in collaboration with Majlis Kanser Nasional (MAKNA), brought forth “The Battlefield Sports Event” at the UTAR Kampar Campus Sports Complex on 20 April 2024.

The Battlefield Sports Event, organised with the guidance of Ms Diong Fong Wei, the Project Advisor and Lecturer of Public Relations in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FAS), was brimming with exhilarating tele-match sports competitions. The event aimed to highlight the significance of physical exercise in preventing breast cancer.

Approximately 100 participants, comprising high school and university students, took part in a diverse range of sports activities such as rope skipping, sack race, multi-leg race, captain ball, giant volleyball, and tug of war. Each competition not only assessed the participants’ athletic abilities but also cultivated a sense of camaraderie and mutual support.

Chen Qiao Tong, the Project Director, expressed her gratitude and excitement, stating, “I sincerely extend my thanks to the supporters of the recent “The Tale of Pink Ribbon Exhibition” held at AEON Mall Kinta City in Ipoh. The exhibition attracted numerous health-conscious individuals and provided clinical breast examinations for 126 participants. This event marks just the beginning, emphasising the significance of “The Battlefield Sports Event” in raising awareness about the role of exercise in preventing breast cancer. Our goal is to inspire people from diverse backgrounds to embrace a healthy lifestyle.” She also announced the upcoming “Beat the Drums Music Festival” scheduled on 27 April 2024, as a celebration of breast cancer survivors and community support.

In addition to the sports activities, every participant received a goodies bag filled with essentials including a T-shirt, lanyard, Revive canned drinks, and bread, ensuring that everyone left with a token of appreciation for their participation. The event also featured booths selling a variety of drinks and food to keep participants energised throughout the day, as well as a career booth providing valuable information and resources for future endeavours.

Khew Zhi Xing, one of the student leaders, expressed, “The Battlefield Sports Event is not only aimed at promoting the prevention of breast cancer through exercise but also provides us with an opportunity to break free from our busy lives. As students, organising this event is a remarkable experience for us and a milestone for our team to serve the community.”

The event also set up an informative booth with exhibition boards presenting key information and statistics about breast cancer. These boards highlighted the significance of mammogram screenings, emphasised the importance of early detection, and provided actionable insights on reducing mortality rates.

Chan Kian Wah, another student participant, said, “The project team hopes that by organising this event, participants will not only understand the benefits of exercise in preventing breast cancer but also enhance their understanding of breast cancer through visits to the breast cancer exhibition, making their participation more meaningful.”

“The Tale of Pink Ribbon” was initiated by Group 1 of the UTAR Public Relations Corporate Social Responsibility (PR CSR) Project 2024. The group received guidance from Ms Diong, the Project Advisor for UTAR PR CSR Project 2024. Comprising 53 Public Relations students, “The Tale of Pink Ribbon” collaborated with the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), Majlis Kanser Nasional (MAKNA), AEON Mall Kinta City, and Perak Transit Bhd. The project aimed to address the challenges faced by individuals dealing with breast cancer in Perak and advocate for early detection.

The UTAR PR CSR Project 2024’s upcoming event, “Beat the Drums Music Festival”, part of “The Tale of Pink Ribbon” initiative, is scheduled to be held on 27 April 2024 at Kampar Putra Sentral. This festival promises to be an extravaganza of music, where the rhythmic beats celebrate the lives of breast cancer survivors.