Basseterre St. Kitts (February 26, 2009) -- At least five women in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis suffering from breast cancer stand to gain from the philanthropy of nationals living in Leeds, England, who last week pledged to raise £10,000 (about EC$40,000) that will be used in the awareness campaign.
At an annual general meeting held on Tuesday evening Feb 17 at the Leeds West Indian Centre in Chapeltown, Leeds, nearly 50 members of the St. Kitts and Nevis Association in Leeds launched a Breast Cancer Awareness Fund whose aim is to raise awareness of Breast Cancer amongst the nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis and to also raise at least £10,000.00 to support women in the Federation.
Spearheading the breast awareness fund is Rev Gloria Griffin-Hanley, who is the Chair Emeritus of the St. Kitts and Nevis Association in Leeds, after retiring from the Chair in 2006. She noted that a small fundraising sub committee comprising of 5/6 members will be formed, three members appointed by the management committee and two or three other members who are Nationals.
During a recent interview at the Leeds West Indian Centre, Rev Hanley, who was born in Cayon and educated at the Basseterre Girls High School but immigrated to the UK in 1968 where she trained as a nurse then a midwife, said that she was touched by the plight of women suffering from breast cancer during a visit to the Federation last year..
“Whilst on a visit to the Federation in October 2008, Breast Cancer awareness month, I was listening to a Radio discussion on a local FM radio station, about breast cancer,” commented Rev Hanley. “During the discussion I learnt about the needless death of women who were not attending for treatment following Mammogram after receiving a positive result.”
She recalled that a survivor of Breast Cancer shared her moving story and highlighted the cost of her treatment. The survivor was fortunate enough to have friends in Trinidad so avoided the added worry of having to look for extra money to pay for accommodation.
“I was stunned at the cost,” said Rev Hanley. “I was also troubled that women were not going forward for treatment. This was mainly due to financial reasons and the fact that the women had to travel to Trinidad for treatment. Some simply could not afford the air travel and the accommodation let alone the astronomic cost they would face for the complete treatment.”
From the programme she learnt that a fund had recently started but money was flowing in at a slow pace. She said that she reflected on the easy accessibility and free treatment offered by the National Health Service, to women in the UK. Even when women made the decision to have treatment privately the cost was far less than that paid by the women in the Federation.
“I made a pledge that on return to the UK I would try and raise funds to help at least 5 women in 2009/10. I am fortunate to be blessed with good health and so far none of my relatives have been afflicted with this incurable disease but the future is unknown. I am determined that any help that can be given from Nationals in the UK will be sought,” she commented.
From figures she obtained last year, she found out that women can be screened (Mammogram) at a cost of US$150.00 at the JNF Hospital. If they require Mastectomy, removal of breast, this would cost the woman US$1500.00.
She further observed that the surgical procedure would be carried out in the Federation and chemotherapy would cost US$10,000.00. Any further treatment the women would have to travel to Trinidad which could last for 24weeks would cost US$50,000.00.
“With a small combined population of about 50,000 for St. Kitts and Nevis it is known that a number of women (figures not available) die from Breast Cancer,” lamented Rev Hanley. “It is not known whether this number contains women who die because they are waiting too late to attend for treatment or because they are not attending because of the financial implication.”
A fundraising strategy has already been put in place and all acts and proceedings of the sub committees will be fully and properly reported to the management committee. The St. Kitts and Nevis Association in Leeds will be the Accountable Body, and all funds raised will be deposited in the Association’s Bank account but will be ring fenced.
She added: “A letter to be sent to the High Commissioner for St. Kitts and Nevis (in London) asking for support and inviting him to endorse the campaign. The campaign will run for one year only. It is envisaged that the families and friends will then continue to support the fund set up in the Federation.”
The members will write to St. Christopher and Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority, asking them to site a locked box at the RLB International Airport for returning Nationals to place unused local money into just before departure.
Rev Gloria Griffin-Hanley who obtained a Masters Degree in Social Science in 1995 and continued to work as Community Midwife until her retirement in June 2008 is an active community worker and chairs a number of Voluntary Organisations.
She is a Pastor at a local Apostolic Church in Leeds, and Chair of the West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council (Established Churches) and Chair of the West Yorkshire African Caribbean Council of Churches (Black Minority Churches) and also sits as a Magistrate on the Leeds Bench.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Association of Leeds, which is about 27 years old and was started by the late Gertrude Paul, the first Black Head Teacher in Leeds. The Present Chair Person is Diane Johnson, Secretary is Adora Maynard and Treasurer is Felina Hughes.
