'Hope for the Flowers' Photo Exhibit

Last July 16, 2009, advocates for cervical cancer unveiled Hope for the Flowers, a photo exhibit featuring stills from the Tour of Hope 2009's Dare to Be Bold bike tour that aimed to raise funds for the Cervical Cancer Protection Network (CECAP). GlaxoSmithKline, the leading company campaigning for the primary prevention of cervical cancer via vaccination, in cooperation with the Tour of Hope, Epson, Nikon, the SM Mall of Asia, Mabolo and Gatorade, presented the function showcasing images by acclaimed photographers Jun De Leon, Jed Santos, Ramon Ty and Miguel De Leon at the Main Atrium of the SM Mall of Asia.

Veron de Guzman, President of the Cancer Fighters Support Group, also a mother of five who's been battling out cervical cancer for more than 10 years now, was present in the event and led what Mr. Jun de Leon called 'a celebration of women', together with GSK's Dr. Carrie Pacheco-Purugganan, Lore Ann Villanueva, Veron Medina, and Bing Salandanan, Bravehearts' Abbygale Arenas-de Leon, and TV personality Suzi Entrata-Abrera.

Part of the afternoon's program was the turning over of a ceremonial gift cheque to the Cancer Institute Foundation (CIF) for CECAP, represented by its Program Director, Dr. Cecilia Ladines-Llave. The Tour of Hope was able to raise almost a quarter of a million pesos through support pledges, all conferred for cervical cancer screening services in low-resource settings.

See more photos of the event here.