Volunteering with Friends of Cancer Patients (Pink Caravan)
About Friends of Cancer Patients
Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP) is a UAE charity founded in 1999 under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, who is its founder and patron. It serves residents across the country and describes its mission as advocating for health and providing holistic care and support on the healing journey.
FOCP’s work rests on three pillars: patient access, community engagement and advocacy. In practice, that means helping patients and families with treatment costs, transport, prosthetics and emotional support, and running awareness programmes on women’s, men’s and children’s health, skin health and lung cancer, as well as Relay for Life.
Its best-known initiative is Pink Caravan, launched in 2011 to promote breast cancer screening and early detection. For years Pink Caravan has run an annual ride through all seven emirates, with free screening clinics in remote areas and education sessions in schools. It also runs mobile mammography and a network of clinics, and it helped establish the Sharjah Breast Care Centre.
What volunteers do
Volunteers have always been part of Pink Caravan. Over the years the rides have involved more than 650 volunteers and over 400 riders, and a single ride in 2018 had around 100 volunteers working alongside more than 200 medical practitioners. Events, awareness drives and community campaigns are where volunteers tend to be most visible.
FOCP does not publish a list of specific roles online. When you register, you can share the kind of help you would like to give, and the team will contact you about relevant events.
Who can volunteer
The volunteer registration form does not state a minimum age. It does ask for a fair amount of information, so have these ready:
- Full name, email, phone, occupation, date of birth, gender and nationality
- City, address, P.O. box, emirate and visa expiry date
- A passport-style photo and your CV
- Copies of your national ID and passport, if you have them to hand
The visa expiry field suggests the programme is aimed at UAE residents and citizens.
How to get involved
- Open the form. Go to the FOCP volunteer registration form, available in English and Arabic.
- Prepare your documents. Scan your photo, CV and ID documents before you start.
- Submit and opt in. Tick the mailing list option so you hear about events.
- Follow up if needed. If you have not heard back, call 06 506 5542.
- Watch the calendar. Check the event calendar and FOCP’s social media for new dates.
Upcoming campaigns
Pink Caravan’s 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign began on 1 October 2026 and runs throughout October, with free screenings, clinical breast examinations and mammograms at fixed and mobile clinics across the UAE, plus workplace sessions and community events. When we checked, FOCP’s event calendar showed no events listed for November 2026 to February 2027, so keep an eye on its channels for new announcements.
Other ways to help
- Donate: through the FOCP donation page.
- Zakat: FOCP has a dedicated zakat page for those who want to direct zakat to cancer patients.
- Get screened: early detection is the heart of Pink Caravan. Booking your own check-up, or encouraging a friend to, supports the cause directly.
- Know someone who needs help? Patients can apply for support through the beneficiary form.
Good to know
Many volunteer opportunities cluster around October and other awareness months, so register before those peaks.
At screening events you may meet people who are anxious or unwell. Kindness and discretion count for more than anything else.
The registration form asks for several documents, which can feel like a lot for a volunteer sign-up. It is simply how many UAE charities keep records of who is helping at public events. Keep digital copies of your ID, passport, CV and a passport-style photo in one folder, and the form will take you only a few minutes.
If you speak Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog or another widely spoken language, mention it. Community events reach people from many backgrounds.
Contact and links
- Website: www.focp.ae
- Phone: 06 506 5542
- Pink Caravan mobile clinic appointments: 06 506 5576
- Contact page: focp.ae/contact-us
- Volunteer form: focp.ae/volunteer-registration-form