On Sunday, October 22, Jamaicans will have a ‘walking’ opportunity to support individuals in their fight against cancer, following the official launch of CIBC FirstCaribbean Walk for the Cure 2023 on Tuesday, October 10.

CIBC FirstCaribbean Walk for the Cure is an annual fundraising event hosted by the CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, with the proceeds going towards the Jamaica Cancer Society to assist cancer patients.

Nigel Holness, managing director of CIBC FirstCaribbean, who was speaking at Tuesday’s launch, shared that since the event’s inception, over J$465 million have been raised to benefit the region’s cancer units, people, and communities.

“With Walk for the Cure, we are making an investment in leadership, in the prevention, treatment, and cure of cancer by contributing to cost-effectiveness in patient care, outreach research, and education,” he said.

“Here in Jamaica, the Jamaica Cancer Society has been our constant partner, and the funds raised from Walk for the Cure have assisted them in providing assistance, care, and counselling to patients and their families and to raise awareness of the importance of early detection through education campaigns across the island,” he added.

Sharing his personal experience of having lost his mother and sister to breast cancer, Holness stressed that more work needs to be done to cure cancer.

Micheal Leslie, acting executive director of the Jamaica Cancer Society, who quoted data from the World Health Organization 2020 report, said 1, 200 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in Jamaica in the same year the report was prepared.

He noted that the funds raised from this year’s event will go towards assisting women who cannot afford breast cancer screening.

“The funds raised from this walk-run will help in assisting women who are underserved, women who need to be screened,” he said.

For the 12th annual staging of CIBC FirstCaribbean flagship cancer fundraising event, the bank has partnered with Running Events Jamaica, a premiere race management company, to aid in the smooth execution of the event.

“The promotion of a healthy lifestyle is something that we at Running Events take at our core. We are in this for the promotion of a healthy lifestyle through running and physical activity,” said Alfred Francis, managing director of Running Events Jamaica.

The event will be held at the Hope Botanic Gardens on Old Hope Road in St Andrew and is set to begin at 6 a.m. on October 22.

Persons can register for the event by visiting the Running Events website.