Thousands gear up for annual ‘Walk for the cure’ this weekend

Thousands of walkers clad in branded T-shirts will hit major streets and highways across the region this weekend united in a common cause to raise funds and awareness in a campaign against cancer.{{more}}

The fifth annual CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Walk for the Cure will see thousands of walkers and runners across the most of the 16 territories where the bank is located, converging for early morning or afternoon walks and runs in support of a local cancer charity.

In St Vincent and the Grenadines this year, the bank has partnered with Project Pink and other sponsors to stage the Walk for the Cure, which takes place here on Saturday October1. The walk takes place on Sunday, October 2, in some other territories.

The generous support of a number of regional and local sponsors coupled with the myriad fundraising events and activities organized by the bank’s staff across the region, has so far raised USD$402,715 of the USD$500, 000 target set for this year.

Last year’s efforts raised USD$400, 000 which went directly towards early detection, care, support and raising awareness of cancer across the region.

“We are really excited about this year’s walk. Persons all across the region have been signing up in their thousands and we are truly overwhelmed by the support for the walk in all of our territories,” said walk Co-Chairs and CIBC FirstCaribbean executives Mark St. Hill and Trevor Torzsas.

“In the short five years that we have been organizing this event, it is truly remarkable how it has emerged as one of the region’s leading cancer fundraising and awareness causes. What makes this walk so special for us is the way it rallies all sections of our regional communities together around this common cause,” the Co-Chairs said.

“This is truly a family event. To see mothers, fathers, brothers, aunts and uncles – from babes in strollers to grandmothers and grandfathers all walking for the cure is simply heart-warming,” they said. “We are especially proud to know that every cent raised by their efforts and the generosity of our sponsors and donors will be donated to various organisations across the region to assist with the purchase and maintenance of equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients,” they added.

The funds are also used to provide assistance, care and counselling to patients and their families as well as to raise awareness through education campaigns across the region.

Over the past five years the bank has raised over USD $1 million from the event primarily supported by generous corporate donors and diverse fundraising activities and events hosted by staff members.

This year the bank’s registration and fundraising efforts were greatly enhanced with the introduction of a new website where persons could both register as well as encourage others to register and donate to the cause by logging on to: http://cibcfcibwalkforthecure.causevox.com/Even after the walks end this weekend, persons can still continue to make contributions toward the cause at the website.

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.