Now, each time the users of Etisalat services pick up their phone and send an SMS to the number 1110, you would have contributed ‘a dirham of hope’ to the treatment, support and wellbeing of a cancer patient in the country.

This great opportunity for community service is the outcome of a fundraising initiative, ‘Dirham Al Amal’or ‘A Dirham for Hope’,which was launched recently by Emirates Telecommunication Group Company (Etisalat) and Friends Of Cancer Patients (FOCP)– aSharjah-based cancer charity – witha view to support FOCP’s efforts in offering financial and moral assistanceto cancer sufferers and their families in the UAE.

An agreement formalising the initiative was signed by HE Abdul Aziz Taryam, CEO Advisor and General Manager, Etisalat Northern Emirates, and HE Sawsan Jafar, Chairperson of the FOCP Board of Directors.

The agreement enables community members to support FOCP’s efforts in the fight against cancer by donating only one Dirham daily tothe Dirham Al Amal initiative.Upon sending an SMS to the Etisalat number 1110, AED 1 will be transferred to the FOCPaccount.

Abdul Aziz Taryam, CEO Advisor and General Manager, Etisalat Northern Emirates, said: “The Dirham Al Amal initiative is in line with Etisalat’s commitment to fulfilling its social responsibilities, empowering public service associations and supporting various humanitarian initiatives.”

“The agreement with FOCP seeks to alleviate the sufferings of cancer patients by provide financial and moral support to them and their families. At Etisalat, we are pleased to provide an SMS donation platform to enable the public to support philanthropic efforts and promote human development initiatives.”

HE Sawsan Jafar, Chairperson of FOCP’s Board of Directors, said: “The Dirham Al Amal initiative is of great significance as it enhances our efforts to provide support to cancer patients in the UAE.,as cancer treatment can often be a financial burden on the patient and his family.

“The agreement willgenerate anew source that will ensure a steady flow of funds through individuals’ daily donations to FOCP, whichwe believe will be truly beneficial for cancer sufferers in the UAE. I thank Etisalatimmensely for its landmark humanitarian initiatives,which will have a lasting impact on the lives of people. I urge individuals to join our efforts to combat the disease by contributing generously to the cause.”

Over the past nineteen years, FOCP has launchedseveral humanitarian initiatives that aim to promote community awareness about the disease. The foremost of these efforts is the annual Pink Caravan Ride, which promotes awareness about breast cancer and the importance ofits early detection examination. Other initiatives include 'Ana' - a childhood cancer awareness initiative, and ‘Shanab’(Moustache in Arabic), amale cancer initiativeto raise awareness about prostate and testicular cancer.

FOCP also launched the Zakat fund-raising campaign, "I Deserve a Life", during Ramadan to collect Zakat Al-Fitr funds for those who have difficulty in affording high costs of cancer treatment in the UAE.The non-profit organisation also organises regularly ‘Colour My World’ programme, which is designed to support women with cancer.

Founded in 1999, the Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP) aims to promote community awareness about the six early detectable cancers; breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, testicular cancer and colon cancer. Besides its awareness activities, FoCP provides moral and financial support for thousands of patients and their families regardless of nationality and age. It has so far provided support for manyof cancer patients, including children, women and men in the UAE.