Sonographer Sonia Charles, is the lead organizer of the Caribscan & Pink Ribbon Charity Week. She could not be more elated following the most successful ‘Pink Ribbon Charity’ walkathon to date since it began 2010 and it’s charity launch in 2009.
Sonia Charles hands over check to Ronnie Samuel
The week celebration and activities are all in an effort to increase the awareness of breast cancer, held during the month of October known internationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October.
The week’s activities ran from October 8 – 11 beginning with a Charity Barbeque at Olveston House and ending with the annual Pink Ribbon Walk & Charity Bingo, which began at Lookout through Sweeneys, Davy Hill, Carrs Bay and ending at the Lime Complex in Brades. More than 190 men, women and children took the almost one-hour trek from Lookout Community Centre to The Lyme in Brades, where another 100 people were waiting.
Bernadine Collins
Susan Edgecombe
During a short closing ceremony, organizer Sonia Charles of Caribscan said this had been quite an emotional week as she was touched by the tremendous support that she’d received at each event created to bring awareness to breast health and to raise money for the Pink Ribbon Charity.
The turn was considered ‘massive’ , declared bigger than ever before. During a brief closing ceremony and before the Bingo took place among others, the Hon. Minister Mrs. Delmaud Ryan with responsibility for Health urged women to love themselves enough to take charge of their own health and wellness.
She led off, “What does love have to do with breast cancer? Loving one’s self means that we take to attending to our physical wellbeing, paying attention to what we consume on a daily basis, what we eat, what we drink and what we hear. What we hear sometimes causes us to worry unnecessary, increasing toxins in our bodies which creates stress and stress opens up the door for all forms of illnesses, we must therefore take time to manage and promote a less stressful life.”
Anne Marie Dewar
The ‘Pum Pum’ girls group joined the walk – look out for them this festival, they say
She expressed gratefulness on behalf of people and government, “for the partnership of CARIB Scan and the Belmon
t Clinic…” ending by calling the occasion a ‘festive affair’.
Miss Rachel Collis travelled from Antigua and chaired the event.
Miss Anne Marie rendered a somewhat serious but humorous poem, which she said was written by a Dr. Michael Abraham, called ‘Feel-up your breast’, performed Montserrat style, (…so early detection is your very best protection self-examination could be your own salvation).”
Carib Scan and the Pink Ribbon Charity revealed Wednesday that an additional seventy women will get vouchers that qualify for free test for breast cancer in Antigua.
The revelation came after Miss Charles said on the Saturday night: “Tonight is indeed the 5th anniversary of the CaribScan’s Pink Ribbon Walk… I must say that I am very happy to be able to see this come into year five,” she began, as she outline persons and organisations who had supported the charity of the years.
She invited breast cancer survivors or anyone who had a relative who passed from breast cancer to receive memento glowing wands.
Mrs Sujue Davis wife of H E Governor Davis svvortding to Miss Charles was deserving of a huge round of applause having raised, “a whooping
(l to r)Hazel Riley, Brenda Daley, Angella Davis, Sonia Charles
amount of funds in January,” that enabled CaribScan to deliver a cheque on the spot in the sum of $9,000.00 to Mr. Ronnie Samuel, a representative, present at the event, from the Belmont Clinic in Antigua.
Ba
ck in 2011 by special arrangement the Belmont Clinic has agreed to do half price mammograms for women from Montserrat under the project, with the remaining half being paid for by the Mammogram Fund from the charity. Also An arrangement was also made, through the Ministry of Communications and Works, for reduced-price ferry tickets between Montserrat and Antigua
During this week Miss Charles along with Bernadine Collins, Brenda Daley and Hazel Riley have made statements of appreciation for being able to have women numbering over 150 avail themselves of the mammogram checks of their breasts in Antigua.
Sonia Charles commended the board of the Pink Ribbon Charity and all of the companies and individuals who donated their time and resources to making the week a success. This included The Lyme proprietors, who has been annual supporters of the walk and fundraising BINGO, Fly Montserrat, the Ministry of Health, Education & Social Services, the Ministry of Communications and Works, The Montserrat Reporter, MNI Alive, ZJB Radio Montserrat, and Goldenmedia.
