BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN an effort to help women take mammograms and get screening for breast cancer, the Essence of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation held a Tea Party to raise funds for such ventures.
The Tea Party was held yesterday Sunday (Apr. 28) at the Palm Court Gardens.
President of the non-profit organisation, Pamela Armstrong-Hendrickson told SKNVibes that it was the first fundraiser the Foundation has undertaken for the year, but the event was done differently from previous years.
“Well, today’s event is the first and usually we would have a tea party and hat parade, but this year we opt to just have the tea party and not the parade. So this is an annual thing that we have.”
She added that the basic idea for the fundraiser is to raise enough funds to offset the cost of mammograms for those in need who would have approached the Foundation and not general for those who can afford to pay for their own screening and mammograms.
“It is a fundraiser to raise funds for mammograms; to provide free mammograms to persons who the foundation would have screened. It is just a short screening that we have, so this is for persons who do not have money to take mammograms.”
Armstrong-Hendrickson explained that it was the Foundation’s fifth anniversary and they are planning big events for the year beginning with the “Tea Party”.
“So we are really doing it big this year. The next even that we are going to have is a Variety Sale which includes clothing and household stuff. And that would be followed by a Breakfast and also a Health Forum. That is going to be a big one! After that we would have our walk for the cause/ rise for life in the month of October, which is Breast Cancer Month.”
The President added that every year the Foundation’s activities have gotten “bigger and better” and would culminate with the annual “Pink and White Gala”; an event that is big on the Foundation’s calendar.
It was noted that not many women in St. Kitts would have themselves screened for breast cancer, therefore, the Foundation has upped it sensitisation programmes.
She noted that they use radio programmes, word of mouth promotions and forums in which they are invited or have an open gathering.
“Whether you can afford it or not, you just need to take a mammogram after the age of 40. I tell women when they turn 40 that should be the first gift to themselves instead of a cake,” Armstrong-Hendrickson said.
She declared that a number of women had approached her and said that “they are afraid to take a mammogram and they do not want to know”.
