Water Authority joins Lions fight against male cancers
(L-R) PACCE committee member Ercley Bodden, Lions Club of Grand Cayman president Tannya Mortimer, Water Authority human resources supervisor Yolita Parchment, PACCE committee chairperson and member, respectively, Carmin Godfrey and Colleen Burke
(CNS): Water Authority-Cayman is again supporting the Lions Club of Grand Cayman by sponsoring the fifth Annual Delano Hislop Memorial Journey For Life, through a $2,500 donation. The 15-mile walk/run, which aims to raise awareness about prostate and colon cancer, is scheduled to take place Sunday, 11 September 2016. PACCE (Prostate and Colon Cancer Event) Committee chairperson Carmin Godfrey explained that dispelling the myths surrounding prostate and colon cancer is especially important in Caribbean countries.
“Raising awareness about prostate and colon cancer is important in the Cayman Islands because statistics show prostate cancer is higher in men of colour and is rampant in the Caribbean,” she said. “As a club, we saw the need to bring more awareness and save lives in the process.”
Water Authority director Dr Gelia Frederick-van Genderen said that the authority board was proud to be a continued sponsor of the annual event.
“We all know someone – in our families, in our community – whose life has been touched by cancer. Indeed, many of us have been personally affected by one form of this deadly disease or another,” she said. “It is important to the authority, therefore, that we make a positive impact on the fight against cancer in the Cayman Islands.”
Godfrey said that the event has grown from strength to strength over the past five years. “We have seen the awareness level grow from year to year, and the myths that have prevented many men from getting checked are becoming less,” she said.
The walk/run was named in honour of Lions past president Delano Hislop, who lost his battle to colon cancer in 2011. Since then, the Lions Club has worked to decrease the number of lives lost to prostate, colon and testicular cancer by spreading awareness and encouraging early testing.
Category: Medical and Health, Service Organisations
