BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IF you happen to walk down Fort Street, between the hustle and bustle you are going to see large pink ribbons decorating the poles, …walk down to the end and you will see a beautifully and thoughtful gesture - a decorated Berkeley Memorial Clock, located in The Circus in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Levar Flanders of Purr-fection Design and Décor has taken the gesture ‘Paint the town Pink’ seriously.
This resulted after he saw a posting on Facebook from Pam Hendrickson, founder of Essence of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, about painting the town pink by encouraging everyone to wear pink during the month of October.
“I thought that it was a very good idea and decorating is my field and my passion. There are so many people infected with cancer and so many of their friends and family affected by their diagnosis that most of them tend to stay behind doors. We want them to step forward and be advocates and encourage others especially the younger folks to get tested at an early age,” he said.
The decorating was done on the evening of Sunday (Oct. 21).
Hendrickson said that Flanders was the perfect example of what Essence of Hope stood for which was all about creating awareness and showing concern.
“I didn’t have to ask him; he contacted me because he saw our poster on Facebook If we get more like Lee we would be on to something great, something huge, we would be able to make a mark. Decorating the Circus was not for us, it was for those who are suffering, those who are going through it and those we’ve lost,” she said.
She is hoping it can bring a smile on the face of someone who is affected by Breast Cancer.
Hendrickson said her foundation has been around since August 2009 and was started with the mission to educate persons about Breast Cancer and provide free mammograms as well as assist financially with those diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
She said that so far the women she has approached do not want to have mammograms as they feel like they do not want to know if they have Breast Cancer.
Hendrickson said that they have however, assisted financially with airline tickets and surgery but would prefer if they can help in the prevention by early detection.
“We don’t turn anybody back, but what we want to do is educate and get you to do mammograms if you are of age,” she said.
Flanders interjected.
“That’s why we need persons affected to be Advocates, so they can tell their peers… Breast Cancer can affect anyone even men as well. Cancer is taking us by storm,” he said.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month is nearing the end, Hendrickson said that tomorrow (Oct. 24) they will host along with the Teacher’s Union a Health Forum at the Basseterre High School on Breast Cancer at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, (Oct. 26), is declared Pink Friday and they want everyone to wear something pink to show they care.
Also on Friday, Hendrickson said the Teachers Union would be launching a special project in memory of a teacher who passed away. It will be held at the Cayon High School as the teacher had formerly taught there.
The grand finale will be on Saturday (Oct. 27), where they will ‘walk for the cause, race for life’ starting at Caribbean Cinema at 6:00 a.m. and they will walk to the second roundabout in Frigate Bay.
Persons interested in purchasing packages for the walk can contact any member of the Foundation or call 660-0152 and on Friday they will be in Independence Square from 11:00 a.m. selling shirts.
