BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DRESSED in the colour pink, which is also classified the colour of hope, hundreds of people participated in the Essence of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation Race for Life Walk held on Saturday (Oct 23) in St. Kitts.
The walk, which began at 6:00 a.m. from Greenlands, experienced some rainfall during the first half hour as the participants made their way to the Frederick Theophilus Williams Highway. They then continued along the Kim Collins onto the Frigate Bay Road and ended their trek at the lawn in front of Timothy Beach Resort.
Persons on the walk included the Minister of Health and Gender Affairs, the Hon. Marcella Liburd; members of her ministry; entrepreneurs; children and the contestants for this year’s National Carnival Queen Pageant.
Some persons jogged, some power walked while some took their time and chatted with friends. They were all there to show their support and care for their sisters, mothers, aunts, friends, wives or daughters, who are or may be susceptible to breast cancer.
According to Christoffer Johansen MD, PhD, DSc (Med) of the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology in Copenhagen, Denmark, “A diagnosis of breast cancer not only affects the life of the patient but may also seriously affect the partner”.
As the walk climaxed at the Frigate Bay lawn, handouts on breast cancer were given to persons along with breakfast.
Organiser of the event and President of Essence of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, Pam Hendrickson said that she was excited about the turnout.
She stated that the memory of the late Annette E. Jenkins and other women close to her was the main reason she started Essence of Hope, as she hopes it would aid in the fight against breast cancer.
“I lost my best friend Annette Jenkins in September 2000 to breast cancer. She was very well known and very loved by all who knew her. A prominent and productive citizen she was, as well as an entrepreneur in St. Kitts.
“Our relationship was special. She was the first one I would call when my world was crumbling. I watched my best friend suffer at the fate of this disease from the day she was diagnosed until her passing,” Hendrickson said.
Also present was breast cancer survivor 28-year-old Omonike Robinson-Pickering.
Robinson-Pickering told the crowd that she was diagnosed at age 26 and that breast cancer is not a death sentence.
“Early detection is ammunition against breast cancer, life goes on after it…keep hope alive,” she said.
Hendrickson said they would be hosting more events to create more breast cancer awareness and to assist with persons getting mammograms.
The members of the Essence of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation Committee are Claudette Jenkins, Julie Gumbs, Judith Romney, Jego Armstrong, Kai Williams, Kerine Archibald and Ian ‘Rookie’ Phipps.
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