The ravages to human health being caused by various types of cancer illnesses are continuing to attract the support of the business community against the deadly disease. The latest company to come on board, in partnership with the Department for Disaster Preparedness, is Alliance Insurance on the Edwin Wallace Rey Drive in George Hill.
On Wednesday this week the insurance company presented a financial award of US$300 to the Anguilla Cancer Society for its outstanding work in risk reduction services in the community.
Insurance Broker, Doreen Bryan, who delivered the welcome remarks, said the event was an effort by Alliance Insurance to recognise those who had contributed towards reducing risks in the community. “They have shown that they care about their country and fellow citizens and we are awarding them to ensure that their hard work has not gone unnoticed,” she stated, noting that it was the third such annual award by the company so far.
Director of Alliance Insurance, Sandra Lowell, said the award was the brainchild of Alwyn Richardson (Jerrydice), Mitigation Officer at the Department of Disaster Preparedness. The aim is to recognise an individual or group who, at their own initiative, was contributing to disaster risk reduction. She said the first award was presented in 2011 to Aubrey Smith of Island Harbour who operates an emergency communication system for fishermen and other boatmen. The 2012 awardee was Chief Nursing Officer, Serene Carter-Davis, who was instrumental in developing a National Disaster Health Plan. Ms Lowell was pleased that the Anguilla Cancer Society was selected for the 2013 award for its outstanding contribution to the community.
Deputy Governor, the Hon Stanley Reid, who is responsible for Disaster Management, took the opportunity to explain the department’s mitigation functions before and after an event – and the value of such mitigation activities. “This Annual Risk Reduction Recognition Award incentivises individuals, groups and organisations engaged in mitigation efforts, provides an occasion for recognising an outstanding person, group or organisation, for the efforts they have made in relation to mitigation,” he continued.
“The award also serves another purpose: it allows for private entities to engage, collaborate, with Government entities in relation to securing Anguilla. Alliance Insurance Services has done just that, in partnering with the Department of Disaster Management, and I want to commend them for taking that initiative and affording the Department the opportunity to realise, on an annual basis, this award.”
Mr. John Williams, Director of Alliance Insurance based in Tortola, said he had a lot of sympathy for ladies suffering with breast cancer [and other cancers]. As a result he had been able to find another donor to add two hundred dollars to the award, making it five hundred dollars instead of three hundred this year. He was happy to be part of the award and thought it was for a very well-deserving and proactive cause.
President of the Anguilla Cancer Society, Mrs. Jennifer Gumbs, was grateful for the financial award which had added to the donations received from various sponsors of the cancer awareness initiative. “We really want to thank all the businesses that have been working with us, and to assure them that their contributions go a long way in assisting cancer patients,” she added.
