Breast Cancer Awareness “Walk of Hope” – A Success – The Anguillian Newspaper

Over 300 persons thronged the parking lot of the C&N Jumbo Plaza, at the junction to the North Road on Thursday, 13th October, to participate in the first ever Breast Cancer Awareness Walk of Hope. Dubbed one of the largest walk-a-thons on Anguilla, under the theme, “Cancer is Everybody’s Business – Early Detection is the Best Protection,” young and old from all walks of life donned the pink and white awareness T-Shirts to show support for the survivors and victims of Breast Cancer.

Participants at the starting point ready to commence Breast Cancer Awareness Walk

The Walk, which is slated to become an annual event, was organised by Cap Juluca’s Health and Wellness Committee as part of activities to mark October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It attracted breast cancer survivors, friends and family, health officials, management and staff of the various members of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association, and other companies, as well as a number of school children and a large contingent from the St. James Medical School.

L-R: Vernice Battik, Jennifer Gumbs and Annmarie Letang

The Walk began with a welcome and prayer by Jennifer Gumbs, Senior Health Education Officer with the Health Authority of Anguilla and Chairperson of the Cancer Awareness Steering Committee. Mrs. Gumbs thanked Cap Juluca for undertaking the awareness-building drive and initiating the first ever Walk of Hope.

Speaking on behalf of Cap Juluca, breast cancer survivor and Walk of Hope Coordinator, Annmarie Letang, thanked all the participants for their overwhelming response and support. “Breast Cancer has been on the increase in Anguilla”, she said, “but research has shown that with the medical advances in the field, more than 80 per cent of cancers are completely curable, if detected and treated early”.
General Manager of Cap Juluca, Gary Thulander, says that Cap Juluca was pleased to be part of the awareness-building activities because breast cancer is a disease which has touched the lives of almost every household on Anguilla. He commended the Juluca Health and Wellness Committee for their efforts in raising awareness within the Resort, as well as in the wider community.

The Walk of Hope raised more than just awareness, says Director of Human Resources, Phyllis Fleming Banks – it also raised over EC$4,000.00 which will go towards the drive by Women with Heart to continue providing mammograms, medical and financial assistance and support to those uninsured persons diagnosed with breast cancer on Anguilla.

Cap Juluca is expressing thanks to all the partners and stakeholders, including Max Printing, Ron Sign Shop, LIME, the AHTA, Tropical Distributors, Aronel Water, Dungeon Gym, Boss and the Horsepower Band, Digicel, Sunset Homes, Simply Natural by Yinka, C&N Jumbo Plaza, The Media, the EMT’s, the RAPF, those who made donations of time and money, as well as the Walk of Hope participants.