‘Walk for the cure’ sponsors double last year’s fund-raising

The St Vincent Cancer Society can expect to receive more than double the financial support for its life saving work this year from CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Walk For the Cure, an annual fund-raising walk held here and across the region in territories where the bank operates.{{more}}

Walk manager Jacintha Hinds revealed that as a result of the generous support of corporate sponsors, as well as several fund-raising activities organized by employees of the regional bank, they had doubled the amount of funds raised so far this year when compared to last year.

“We are delighted at the level of support that we have received from our sponsors and the enthusiasm of our staff, who are again rallying in their numbers to support this life-saving cause,” Hinds said.

“I want to especially thank our sponsors Guardsman, Massy United Insurance, FLOW, SVG Teachers Co-operative Credit Union Ltd, Tus-T, ECGC, Ju-C and Premium Products,” she said. “It is because of their generous support that we will be able to give more to the Cancer Society this year to allow them to continue providing vital care and support to the many Vincentians who are directly or indirectly affected by cancer,” she added.

The walk takes place on Saturday, October 3rd at 5:30 a.m. This year, walkers will leave the car park at the bank’s Halifax Street location (Bank Yard) and make their way to the Arnos Vale Roundabout, up to Vigie Highway, right to Villa/Fountain Road and back to the Bank Yard. Registration for the walk is EC$30 for adults and EC$20 for children. Each registered participant will receive a specially branded walk T-shirt.

The ‘Walk for the Cure’ is now in its fourth year, and is one of CIBC FirstCaribbean’s premiere regional community engagement and outreach initiatives which benefits cancer organizations throughout the region. It will unite over 10,000 passionate participants in 17 countries in which the bank operates, in a unified demonstration of their commitment to assist those affected by cancer.

In the first three years, the event raised approximately US$330,000 to support critical cancer care, purchase vital equipment to treat patients and host general education programmes to create greater awareness of the disease across the region.

Regional fund-raising efforts this year are also set to surpass that three-year total, with over US$280,000 raised so far from generous corporate sponsors and an array of staff fund-raising events.

Co-chairs for this year’s walk, CIBC FirstCaribbean executives Trevor Torzsas and Mark St Hill praised the fund-raising efforts of the bank’s staff and the enthusiastic support of the business community who have been coming on board as sponsors.

The walk is also held to coincide with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s CIBC Run for the Cure, sponsored by the bank’s parent company, CIBC. CIBC has been supporting this event for more than 20 years, donating millions to breast cancer research in Canada.