“Pink Ribbon” mini bus after visiting Panevezys region had arrived to Birstonas

2009 Jun 8

The project “Do Not Delay” had arrived to Birstonas. On June 3 we have been working in Birstonas vienkiemis and Nemajunai. Our good will ambassador in Birstonas county Anele Pyragiene took care of organizational things as the flow of information and the queue. During this day the oncologists had examined 102 women.

On June 4 we women are invited to join our project in Birstonas near the Caritas community building.

“Do Not Delay” project had finished the first visit in Panevezys region

2009 Jun 2

May 29th is planned for Betygala and Siluva.
The Pink Bus is visiting recently Raseiniai region. On May 28th we were working in Norgelai and Sujainiai. The team was hosted by Raseiniai Forest administration and the local community chairwomen Grazina Ciariene. There were examined 60 woman before the lunch time, 1 suspicion of the breast cancer was found. In the afternoon the bus was parked near the doyen of Paliepiai office. 50 woman were conculted by the oncologists.
May 27th was spent in Gargzdai. The bus was parked in the square next to the Cultural Center of the town. The oncologists examined 228 woman in this town.

The library of Liudyne invites guest to see the Pink shelf

2009 Jun 1

Our team was nicely surprised by the Liudyne library. The head of the library Stanislava Steponaviciene had organized and prepared the Pink Shelf that symbolizes the idea of the “Do Not Delay” projact. The project was hosted by this labrary on June 1. The Pink Shelf is visited by the local community and other guests already for last 3 weeks. There is an information on the project idea and the quatations of the undertaker of this project A.Zuokiene that motivate woman to take care of their health. Woman that greeted our team, shared their gratitude to receive this project in Liudyne since it was the first time for us to be here. They thanked the head of library for this oportunity to join the project. It was nice to hear that the local community gladly works improving the enviroment of the town and carry the initiative of different actions.


The meeting with Liudyne woman community
Our team thanks for the opportunity to meet with the community of Liudyne and to feel that warm feeling of likely beeing at home.

After the short stop in Gargzdai and Raseiniai region “Do Not Delay” project is visiting Panevezys region

2009 Jun 1

May 29th is planned for Betygala and Siluva.
The Pink Bus is visiting recently Raseiniai region. On May 28th we were working in Norgelai and Sujainiai. The team was hosted by Raseiniai Forest administration and the local community chairwomen Grazina Ciariene. There were examined 60 woman before the lunch time, 1 suspicion of the breast cancer was found. In the afternoon the bus was parked near the doyen of Paliepiai office. 50 woman were conculted by the oncologists.
May 27th was spent in Gargzdai. The bus was parked in the square next to the Cultural Center of the town. The oncologists examined 228 woman in this town.

Race for cure are held in Svencioneliai, Mieziskiai, Kaisiadorys 

2009 May 28


Analyzing the mortality rate caused by breast cancer, Lithuania is at the top of the list in Europe. The reason for this is mainly diagnosing cancer in late stages, when the chances for cure are significantly smaller. That is why diagnosing the illness in the early stages of cancer development is vital. The diagnosis at early stages would enable curing breast cancer more effectively moreover, it would decrease the mortality-rate from breast cancer in Lithuania. However, many women in Lithuania neither perform breast self - examination, nor seek a medical examination at their doctors’. This situation is caused by a lack of medical education about breast cancer in Lithuania.
As family, friends and the society itself are often the ones to encourage women to pay attention to their health un thus enhance oncological awareness, we ivnite people (men and women, young and old, healthy and having health issues) to participate in the Race for cureevents. The „Race for cure“ events are well known all arround the world and often organized for gathering donations for the activities against cancer. We have a different aim and the participants of „Race for cure“ in Lithuania do not pay a member fee. It is an event for remembering those who died from cancer and for supporting those who are fighting against it today.
Race for cure in Lithuania, organized by public company Azzara, is an hour of jog or walk in the memory of those who have succumbed to cancer and for the life of those who have overcome it. Marathons have been held for 60 times already since the beginning of the project Do Not Delay in 2003. A total of 14,139 participants have taken part in the marathons.

The Pink Bus is turning towards Klaipeda region for short time

2009 May 27

On May 27th, the Pink Bus will stop in Gargzdai town for one day. It will be the last stop at the Lithuanian seaside after working here for the last 8 days. We will move towards Raseiniai and Panevezys regions where the team will be working between May 28 and June 2. The next time for Klaipeda region is foreseened in July 24-25.

The “Pink Ribbon” is moving across the Lithuanian coast

2009 May 26

On May 25-26 our mini bus is visiting Kretinga region: Kretinga town, Kurmaiciai and Vydmantai. On May 25 the bus was parked near the Woman Information and Learning Center of Kretinga. 119 women were consulted by the oncologists on board of the “Pink Ribbon” bus. The second day of our visit in Kretinga region was spent in Kurmaiciai and Vydmantai. The oncologist P.Sniuolis had consulted 168 woman and 2 man. Two woman were urged to make further analysis regarding the suspected breast cancer. In total there were examined 289 woman in Kretinga region.


Kretinga, the crowd of woman waiting for the consultation

“Do Not Delay” project from Birzai region is moving towards the coast 

2009 May 24


Preila, May 20
Three beautiful days (May 19-21) were spent in the golden part of Lithuania – Neringa. The inhabitants of the region has been instructed by project coordinators on breast cancer prevention issues and self - examination. The doctors of the project has been examined 306 woman. 1 suspicion of the breast cancer was found. Besides the direct activities of the project there were several meetings with the local institutions: vice major of the Municipality of Neringa Ausra Feser inveted us for a short conversation; the members of the reahibilitation center for dissabled had participated in the open discussion of the breast cancer precention in Lithuania; the doctor of the Municipality Virginija Gedziuviene was supporting us each day on our arrival to Nida; the doyennes of Preila and Juodkrante were hosting us in their offices.

Woman from Utena, Kupiskis and Pasvalys regions were consulted by the oncologists

2009 May 13

The team of the project has been hosted by Pasvalys region from 11 to 13 of May. 112 women were consulted by the oncologists on board of the “Pink Ribbon” bus. Doctors urged one patient to perform further medical examination as they had a suspicion of breast cancer.
Utena town has welcomed us with the strog wind and cold rain. From 8 to 10 of May the bus was hosted by the Good Will Ambassador in Utena – Eligija Zidoniene. She had spent all the time with us supporting our activities in all situations. We thank her for that. The team has visited 4 rural locations: Atkociskes, Uzpaliai, Radeikiai and Juknenai. One full day has been spent in Utena town. During this time 316 woman has been examined by the doctors working with the project. Every woman received a card with her name on it confirming that she had learned the first lesson of breast self - examination.

Naciunai, woman are watching the short movie

May 7 was dedicated to Kupiskis region. We have visited two rural locations on that day: Noriunai and Sepeta. The Major of Kupiskis Jonas Jarutis invited our team for the short discussion in the City Hall. We have presented the project for the local media representatives. Warm wards were exchanged with the Major and our Good Will Ambassador Vilma Mazeikiene. 111 women were examined and consulted at the “Pink Ribbon” bus. 2 suspicions of breast camcer were found. 

The “Pink Ribbon” bus visited Molėtai and Anykščiai regions 

2009 May 6


On 6th of May the „Pink Ribbon“ bus arrived in the center of Anykščiai. The organizational part of the activities in this town was facilitated by the volunteers of the Women Center managed by the “Do Not Delay” Good Will Ambassador in Anykščiai region Elvyra Lasskaja. The inhabitants of the town were instructed by project coordinators on breast cancer prevention issues and self - examination. 112 women were consulted by the oncologists on board of the “Pink Ribbon” bus. Doctors urged one patient to perform further medical examination as they had a suspicion of breast cancer.

On 4th - 5th of May the team of the “Do Not Delay” project worked in small towns and villages of the Anykščiai region: Debeikiai, Aknystos, Ažuožeriai, Naujieji Elmininkai. A total of 217 women were examined and consulted at the “Pink Ribbon” bus. 3 suspicions of breast camcer were found.

A special thanks was received from the Debeikiai school. They had participated in the initiative of the “Do Not Delay” to give a post card to mothers of school children and urge them to pay more attention to their health and have a breast examination for themselves and those who love them. Teachers told us stories about mothers in tears, making promises to their children to take care of themselves.

On the Mothers day weekend (2nd - 3rd of May) our team visited Molėtai region. The “Pink Ribbon” bus worked in Moletai and rural locations Toliejai, Giedraičiai, Alanta. Every locality received the assistance of the project team for 4 hours. A total of 233 women were examined by the doctors working with the project. Every woman received a card with her name on it confirming that she had learned the first lesson of breast self - examination.

7th season of the “Do not delay” started on 1st of May

2009 May 1

1st of May, 2009 was a very important day for me and my team, because that day we started our 7th journey with the „Pink Ribbon“ bus. In next 6 months we will visit more than 250 Lithuanian towns and vilages and more than 15 000 women will be consulted by the oncology specialists working in our bus.

The Breast cancer awareness project “NEDELSK” (“Do Not Delay”) was started 6 years ago. Back then, few dared to openly discuss breast cancer and every other women with this disease died from it. The project’s “Pink Ribbon Bus” and its professional medical team has visited 445 small Lithuanian towns and examined over 43,500 women. For most of these women, this was their first encounter with a breast specialist. The project changed the lives of the 473 women who found out on our bus that they have breast cancer. For most of those diagnosed with cancer, it has meant a longer or even saved life. We are going to those places far from oncology centres where women know little about breast cancer.

I‘m proud that I was able to get the diplomatic corps in Lithuania involved with the charity auctions we called “From my country with love“ (2000-2003). This is how we got the first proceeds to “Nedelsk”. The godmother of “Nedelsk” was the Austrian ambassador’s wife Rosemaria Schwarzinger, who together with other wives of the ambassadors to Lithuania eagerly helped with first charity auctions “From my country with love“ and the idea later was developed into the very popular annual Christmas Bazaar.

During the last few years, my charitable activities have become more important to me than my social or business concerns. I have changed as a person – I can no longer think only of profits, of growth, of those things so important in business. Growth for the sake of growth is characteristic of cancer cells and what I have been doing during the last six years is trying to destroy cancer cells.

I feel happy that the common language of kindness has united the different people, who trust on breast cancer awareness, trust on me and my team, that even with just a little money one can do a lot of amazing and important things. Last October, visiting European Parliament I heard very nice compliment for “Nedelsk” (“Do Not Delay”). It was told, that “Nedelsk” (“Do Not Delay”) is an example of “low budget, but big impact” projects.

I am very thankful to everyone, who participates in “Nedelsk” as sponsor, volunteer, partner or supporter. Special thank for the companies, which help for project since the beginning: STATOIL, ŽVK, FIAT, ALTAS, LIMETA and others. It would not be possible to organise this project without financial support of the company INTERSECOND. This year project also got grant from Norway government.

The project is organised by 3 partners: non-governmental organisation “Azzara”, Vilnius Oncology institute and advertisement company “Kredo R”.

Agne Zuokiene
“Nedelsk” (“Do Not delay”) founder
“Azzara” general manager

“Do not delay” in Lithuania

2009 Apr 27


Six years ago, the Lithuanian rate of deaths caused by breast cancer was the highest in Europe.

DO NOT DELAY, a breast cancer awareness program, was initiated by Agnė Zuokienė in 2003. Today, the number of deaths is significantly lower.

The Do Not Delay team includes professional doctors – specialists of their field who face breast cancer cases on a daily basis.
The Pink Bus travels to the most remote locations in Lithuania to deliver the message to all women – “Take care of your health, pay more attention to yourselves for your own sake and for the sake of those who love you!”