One of the region’s largest cancer fundraisers is less than three weeks away and has so far raised over US$350,000 in support of cancer care and awareness.
Now in its fifth year, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Walk for the Cure will see thousands of walkers and runners across the 16 territories where the bank is located converting major highways into seas of pink and white over the weekend of October 1 and 2.
The walk, which is held in partnership with cancer care organizations in each territory, has set a target of raising US$500,000 this year, all of which will be donated to those organizations to assist with the purchase and maintenance of equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients.
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 four years, the bank has raised over US$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 business in St. Lucia has partnered with Digicel (gold sponsor) and Beyond Limits Design and Construction (bronze sponsor), as well as Brawo, Courts, La Borde’s Gym, Pink Plantation House, Sea Island Cotton Shop, Sugar Beach A Viceroy Resort, Touch Therapies Day Spa and Vel’s Fitness Centre to stage the Walk for the Cure. Proceeds from the Walk for the Cure will support Faces of Cancer and the Saint Lucia Cancer Society.
This year’s walk is expected to attract even more participants as the bank has unveiled a new registration website where persons can register as well as encourage others to register and donate to the cause by logging on to: http://cibcfcibwalkforthecure.causevox.com/
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.
They were also optimistic that the new website will increase “our ability to raise funds for Caribbean people affected by cancer to another level”.
Participants in our annual Walk for the Cure can use the site not only to register for the walk but to make donations to the cause and encourage others to donate.
“With this site in our arsenal of promotional tools, we’ve entered the big leagues of fundraising, which is sure to drive the amount we are raising to support cancer patients in the region, into record levels yet again!” the co-chairs said.
They added: “With this new site, we expect to exceed our target of $500,000 significantly. For us that is extremely satisfying, as it means we will now be able to contribute even more to the worthy organisations across the Caribbean who work every day to support those who receive a diagnosis of cancer, as well as their families. Every cent we raise goes towards that goal in some way – not many fund-raising efforts can make that claim, so we are very proud of that.”
In addition to the website, participants can go to any CIBC FirstCaribbean branch around the region and sign up for the walk or make a contribution.
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.