BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – WITH the Federation witnessing an increase in breast cancer cases, FirstCaribbean Bank continues to partner with the Essence of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation to tackle this serious disease.
Last year, the company resumed its annual activities to raise funds for the foundation and its cause, with the help of several partnering agencies.
Following these activities, the bank successfully raised EC$25,000 to assist in the fight against breast cancer.
This year marked the 13th anniversary of the popular ‘Walk for the Cure.’ The bank’s Country Manager, Eberna Whyte, thanked everyone for their support as she handed over the cheque to Marcus Natta, Public Relations Officer of the Foundation.
“We thank you all for standing with us over the past years. Whether you were there from the very first walk or joined us along the way, your support has made a fundamental difference in the lives of persons directly affected by cancer and their families,” ,” Whyte told the small gathering at the bank’s Basseterre office this afternoon.
Accepting the donation, Natta urged both men and women to take breast cancer screening seriously as the number of cases continues to climb. He emphasized that while funds are crucial, there is also a pressing need for education and awareness about the disease.
““These funds will go an extremely long way to supporting persons. Actually, since the COVID-19 pandemic, Essence of Hope Cancer Foundation has been doing some research and we've found that there have been a doubling of the diagnoses in breast cancer,” Natta informed the gathering.
He continued, “Now, that could be two fold. One, it could be that the awareness that ourselves are doing, you promoting mammograms and so on, persons are now going, women especially, are more, you know, going to the doctor more often and getting mammograms. Or it could mean something is happening, you know, in the environment and so on, that is causing more cases of breast cancer.”
Commending CIBC for its fundraising efforts, Natta disclosed that the funds do not necessarily go only to treatments but also provide support to people seeking care overseas.
“If we don't have the treatments here, we support them, even if they get overseas and they don't have funds to move around and so on. And we support through free mammograms, a free mammogram program that we have,”added Natta.
The PRO encouraged women to get their health checks, do self-breast exams, and, from the age of 40 – or even younger as recommended now – to get their mammograms. Essence of Hope provides free mammograms to facilitate this.
Whyte noted that the funding continues to be invaluable and implored everyone to support the activities for 2024.
Note: The funds will be distributed equally among three agencies and departments, including the Oncology Unit and the Essence of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation.
