Al Jalila Foundation has launched the first Glamour for Good initiative bringing together four ladies – Fina, Marwa, Sarah and Sharifa – with various health conditions for a full day of luxurious pampering and red carpet treatment at Palazzo Versace Dubai. The initiative complements the medical treatment program, A’awen, to spread hope and happiness to patients who have been affected by chronic illness and other serious medical conditions.

Glamour for Good was supported by Palazzo Versace Dubai who provided a 3 bedroom luxury residence for the day which began with a visit to The SPA where the ladies were treated to massages and facials followed by lunch at the acclaimed Vanitas restaurant. The afternoon was dedicated to hair styling, manicures and pedicures provided by Sisters Beauty Lounge. Makeup artist Laure Sejean gave the ladies a full makeover with beauty products sponsored by Kat Von D, Marc Jacobs and Caudalie. The ladies were styled by Marianne Azhari from True Reflections and dressed in beautiful garments sponsored by So Chic, Alanoud Badr, Nadine Chammas, Nadia Saleh and abayas by NM Boutique. The entire day was documented and each lady was treated to a special photoshoot by the talented Uschi Irani.

Ayesha Shahdad, head of A’awen treatment program at Al Jalila Foundation, said: “With the support of our partners and donors we are able to offer life transforming treatment to patients. Our patients come from all walks of life, nationalities and backgrounds and have gone through some traumatic experiences due to their medical conditions and, all too often, life’s indulgences have been pushed aside. Through the Glamour for Good initiative we are thrilled to give these courageous women the extra special care and attention they deserve, offering them a distraction from their daily cares and the chance to enjoy a day of luxurious pampering.”

The ladies concluded the day enjoying afternoon tea in Mosaico in the opulent hotel lobby lounge. All were styled from head to toe in couture and wearing exquisite jewellery on loan from Damas with a total value of AED 300,000. As an extra special treat, Damas surprised each of the ladies with a gift of the Al Jalila Foundation ‘Key of Hope’, a beautiful limited edition pendant created exclusively for Al Jalila Foundation.

It was a day of friendship, happiness and renewed hope. Sharifa, who was bed ridden for several years before her knee replacement exclaimed “My life has changed with the support from Al Jalila Foundation; I am living my life without limitation now and I really enjoyed this special day.” Individually the ladies expressed their appreciation for the beautiful day of pampering even remarking: “I felt like a princess for a day.” said Fina who has suffered from debilitating rheumatism most of her life. “I was overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone” said Marwa who had undergone treatment after a recent heart transplant. Sarah, a breast cancer survivor, remarked “The very generous gift we received from Damas at the end of the day was a true symbol of hope and positivity for the future.”

Through Glamour for Good, Al Jalila Foundation hopes to give patients the opportunity to tell their stories, to be celebrated for their courage in the face of adversity and the chance to inspire others going through health challenges. Al Jalila Foundation, through its A’awen program, has supported over 432 patients including 125 women affected by a number of chronic illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and other serious health conditions.

Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical innovation, today celebrated Brest Friends 13th anniversary acknowledging the impact the home-grown program has contributed to breast cancer awareness in the UAE.

It is estimated that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and it is the second leading cause of death among women. The high prevalence of the disease reinforces the critical need for medical research and improved treatment to save lives. Al Jalila Foundation and Brest Friends work together to raise awareness, fund treatment and invest in pioneering research.

Brest Friends was established in 2005 as the first breast cancer support group in the UAE, by Dr Houriya Kazim, the UAE’s first female surgeon, with the mission to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer and providing a platform where patients and survivors can learn, share experiences and offer moral and emotional support to each other which has proven to be instrumental in a woman’s healing process.

Dr Houriya Kazim, President and Founder of Brest Friends, commented: “We are delighted to achieve this milestone by honouring survivors and reflecting on the impact Brest Friends has made to women in the UAE. Breast cancer awareness has improved dramatically since 2005, thanks to the support of strong advocates and the community who promote and run campaigns highlighting the importance of early detection throughout the year. We would like to mark this anniversary by amplifying a message of hope that the disease can be beaten – there is life after cancer – and through ground-breaking research we aim to develop tangible results to transform the future health of women.”

Brest Friends partnered with Al Jalila Foundation in 2015 expanding its capabilities to facilitate medical treatment and fund locally-based research into the epidemiology of breast cancer. The 3-year partnership has already yielded positive results with more than AED 5 million invested in life-saving treatment to support 26 women and fund seven breast cancer research studies in the UAE.

Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “We are proud to celebrate this milestone with Brest Friends who, over the last thirteen years, has established itself as a beacon of hope for breast cancer patients in the UAE. Through our partnership, and with the help of our donors, we have been able to provide quality medical care and support to women with breast cancer. In line with our mission to advance medical research in the region we have funded a number of pioneering projects which are underway and promise to yield positive outcomes that will offer hope and healing to patients in the future.”

The anniversary event was generously sponsored by Sesame restaurant in Sunset Mall and attended by more than 60 Brest Friends members, patients and survivors, commemorating the positive impact Brest Friends has had on women in the UAE.