PRESS RELEASE — In keeping with its continuing advocacy for healthy lifestyles leading towards cancer prevention, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank welcomed the opportunity to help amplify that message from the influential platform of Saint Lucia Carnival through an initiative of the Saint Lucia Cancer Society.
One of the two beneficiary agencies of the annual CIBC FirstCaribbean Walk For the Cure, the Cancer Society mobilized the Oritus Carnival T-Shirt Band to bring out messages aimed at early detection, screening and prevention, while offering a full-fledged carnival experience with non-alcoholic beverages, water and healthy food and the use of sunscreen as protection against the UV rays of the blazing sun. The band’s portrayal treated with the five top trending cancers in Saint Lucia, namely Breast cancer (pink), Prostate cancer (light blue), Skin cancer (black/orange), Cervical cancer (teal) and Colon cancer (dark blue). The colour lavender represented All cancers.
CIBC’s sponsorship donation facilitated the inclusion of the Prostate cancer section. CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Country Manager, Ladesa James-Williams was full of praise for “this proactive approach to advocacy by the Cancer Society”. According to Mrs. Williams “Similar to ‘Walk For The Cure’, taking part in the largest national cultural festival as a community with a message, is an excellent way to include survivors, families and supporters in the advocacy.”
Through its annual ‘Walk For The Cure’, CIBC FirstCaribbean has, for the past seven years, been a prominent champion of cancer awareness and prevention. To date the bank has raised over USD $2.2 million across the region which is channeled to help cancer patients through various cancer support organisations.
CIBC FirstCaribbean this year also sponsored the participation of the Stilt Walkers section (of Just Us Kidz Carnival Band) in the portrayal “Something Fishy” by the Gros Islet Constituency Council / Gros Islet Cultural Development Committee Junior Carnival Band which emerged as Junior Band of the Year this year. CIBC has been instrumental in keeping the stilt walking artform alive through the annual sponsorship of an entire stilt walking section within the successive portrayals of Just Us Kidz – 8-time junior champions prior to 2019 when the band went on hiatus.