Press Release Charlestown, September 1st 2016
– CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank donated the proceeds raised from its annual ‘Walk for the Cure’ event to the development of a cytology unit at the Alexandra Hospital in Nevis.
During a presenttion ceremony at the Alexandra Hospital, Country Manager (Ag.) Jacqueline Burton reiterated the bank’s commitment to raising awareness of all types of cancer, the importance of early detection and treatment and the ultimate need for a permanent cure.
Burton specifically highlighted the bank’s ‘Walk for the Cure’ initiative as a tool for raising awareness and pointed out that in the past year alone the bank raised E.C $30,000.00 in St. Kitts-Nevis which was shared amongst the cancer awareness groups in the Federation.
Nevis Branch Manager Jasmine Parris, who presented a cheque to Nicole Slack-Liburd, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, said in previous years the bank made donations to several cancer groups including the Pink Lily Foundation. This year it opted to donate to the hospital. She stated “the bank takes its responsibility as a corporate partner seriously and this year it felt the need to invest in early detection as opposed”.
In receiving the cheque, the Permanent Secretary expressed her gratitude on behalf of the Ministry and said the donation would strengthen the efforts being made to develop a cytology unit at the hospital’s lab. She explained that a unit with these facilities and capabilities was extremely important in the Federation as it would aid in the detection of malignancy in persons and by extension aid in the early treatment of cancer.
Also present at the event was Walk for the Cure event coordinator Shawna-Kaye Jackson who took the opportunity to roll out some of the details surrounding this year’s walk which is slated for October 1st 2016 at 5.30 a.m.
CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank’s Walk for the Cure is held simultaneously in 16 Caribbean countries and territories in which the bank operates. Last year over 20,000 participants hit the streets during the walk weekend. Through numerous staff fundraising efforts and the extremely generous support from sponsors, the bank was able to raise over USD $400,000 regionally for the cause, and a total of USD$800,000 over the last four years the walk was staged.
