A group of seven young women entrepreneurs from the Eastern Province, all socially-conscious of the role of women in uplifting those who are in need of help and support, is organizing a charity exhibition to raise funds for the benefit of children afflicted and suffering from cancer. The exhibition will be held on May 3-6 at the Fouad Center, Corniche in Al-Khobar City. It will be opened to the public during the four-day event from 5 to 9 in the evening. “The fight against childhood cancer is a growing problem, afflicting thousands of patients every year, and needs to be addressed,” said Kholoud Al-Dabal, head of the organizing committee. “The charity exhibition is one way of showing our concern in the fight against childhood cancer, which is why we are extending a public invitation,” she added. The exhibition will showcase and feature the creations of the seven budding Saudi women entrepreneurs, which include abayas, women's accessories and similar items. The entire floor of the Fouad Center where the exhibition will be held will be dedicated exclusively to children with an assortment of fun games and activities organized by young volunteers from local schools. The organizer of the charity exhibition, known collectively as Basmah (meaning smile in Arabic), is composed of Kholoud Al-Dabal, Areej Bubshait, Shahad Almangour, Sama'a Almubarak, Bahiya Tarabzouni, Danah Althukair and Mona Albassam, all alumni of Dhahran Ahliyya Schools. “The Basmah group, in holding the charity exhibition, is highlighting the pressing need for all of us to take ownership of our own communities, to take the lead, be the change we wish to see in the world, and to understand that our children are above all our responsibility,” the organizers said. This is now the third year that the charity exhibition for the benefit of children afflicted with cancer is being organized by the Bashmah group. Every year, the number of supporters and attendees to the event has been growing, drawing larger crowds than in the past, and indicating that awareness in the fight against childhood cancer is succeeding. Compared to its first year, the Basmah group has nearly tripled the number of exhibitors, and with a strong participation from the public, more than doubled the funds raised. Proceeds of the charity exhibition will go to the Saudi Cancer Society. Motivated by the success of the past two years, the Basmah group has also demonstrated that when a good cause is behind an exhibition, contrary to what is oftentimes believed, individuals and businesses in the community are more than willing to come together and lend their wholehearted support. “Our aim is to serve as an inspiration to others; as the name of our group Basmah suggests, we are counting on the public's support to put a smile on every child's face – particularly those afflicted with the dreaded disease, which is cancer,” Al
