Fighting Cancer One Pledge At A Time

Caption: Happy 34th anniversary TTCS: Dr. George Laquis, Chairman Emeritus of the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society, cuts the anniversary cake at the launch of Cancer Awareness Month. Standing next to him is former first lady of Trinidad and Tobago and patron of the Cancer Society, Zalayhar Hassanali. They are flanked by other representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society and Republic Bank.

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, October 2, 2014: The fight against cancer continues and to commemorate the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society’s 45th anniversary, Republic Bank has pledged $1 Million, toward the purchase of a digital mammography machine for the Society. The announcement was made yesterday (October 1) by Republic Bank’s Group General Counsel/ Corporate Secretary, Jacqueline Quamina, at the launch of Cancer Awareness Month. The launch was held at the Bank’s Head Office on Park Street, Port-of-Spain. There was also a cake cutting ceremony to celebrate the Society’s anniversary.

Quamina said the Bank continues to work together with the Society, to battle cancer and is committed to raising awareness to help empower diverse communities, age groups and other individuals to get tested. She also challenged Trinidad and Tobago to get on board and help raise funds for the purchase of the machine.

“The full cost of the machine is $2.2million and with our pledge of $ 1million, we are challenging the public, to match their pledge with ours, to raise the remaining million dollars,” she stressed.

Quoting from a Pan American Health Organisation report, Quamina said that Trinidad and Tobago, ranked one of the three countries having the highest cancer mortality rates in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Early detection is the key. Get tested. Encourage your family, loved ones, friends, to get tested. We know the stakes and failure cannot be an option,” she shared.

October has been designated Cancer Awareness Month and in building its on-going commitment to fighting the disease, Republic Bank has for the seventh consecutive year, joined hands with the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society, towards hosting a number of events to raise public awareness.

Some of these activities include the “Give Cancer the Boot” football competition at CIC Grounds, St. Clair on Sunday October 5, the Edufest programme geared toward educating both Primary and Secondary Schools students on the various kinds of cancers. This will be held in both Trinidad and Tobago on October 9 (Tobago) and October 21&22 (Trinidad).

Chairman Emeritus of the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society, Dr. George Laquis, commended Republic Bank for its commitment over the years, adding that the Bank has made a tremendous difference in the lives of many cancer patients.

“We are eternally grateful to Republic Bank for their efforts, as many lives have been saved because of their generosity,” he said.

He stressed that education, early detection and treatment were the main components for fighting the disease.

Also present at the launch were former first lady of Trinidad and Tobago and patron of the Cancer Society, Zalayhar Hassanali, management and staff of Republic Bank and other representative of the Cancer Society.

For the month of October, the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society will be providing to members of the public, free Pap Smears and Breast Cancer screening at Republic Bank branches throughout the country, from 9:30am to 2:30pm. (see side bar for dates and locations)

Republic Bank is proud to collaborate with the Society in the hosting of these events, in their quest to effectively combat cancer, the second leading cause of death in the world. The public is invited to join with us on Saturday October 25 for the “Remembrance Walk” at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, from 3pm, as we Walk for Life and Stand for Hope.

Donations toward the purchase of the machine can be made at the Woodbrook Branch using account number 510 003 510 001 or at any Republic Bank Branch nation-wide.