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CIBC Firstcaribbean’s Fourth Walk For The Cure Raises The Bar
By Debra King
Nov 28, 2015 - 5:39:54 AM

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(L-R): Duquesa Dean, CIBC FCIB Customer Experience Manager; Marie Rodland-Allen, Managing Director for CIBC FCIB Bahamas; Nurse Sandra Ferguson, Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group; Shaun Ingraham, One Eleuthera foundation; Laverne Wildgoose, Cancer Society of The Bahamas; Sandra Kemp, Cancer Society of The Bahamas; Trevor Torzsas, Walk for the Cure Co-Chair and Managing Director of Client Experience and Strategy; CIBC FCIB Director of Human Resources Antoinette Turnquest.

$77,000 raised in Bahamas, $400k across the region

Nassau, Bahamas – CIBC FirstCaribbean’s annual Walk for the Cure has raised the bar yet again, collecting $400,000 across the region and more than $77,000 in donations in the Bahamas in its 2015 fundraising efforts.

In a presentation at the CIBC FirstCaribbean country headquarters on Shirley Street, the Bahamian funds were distributed between eight local cancer charities: Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Groups of New Providence and Grand Bahama; The Cancer Society of The Bahamas; The Cancer Societies of Abaco, Eleuthera and Grand Bahama; The Cancer Association of Grand Bahama and the One Eleuthera Foundation. Each organization received $9,277.

Shaun Ingraham, of One Eleuthera Foundation, stated he is grateful for the support from CIBC FirstCaribbean and the funds will increase access to care in the Family Islands.

“I want to say thanks to CIBC FirstCaribbean for the generosity of this gift,” said Mr. Ingraham. “It means a lot to the women of Eleuthera, Exuma, Long Island, Cat Island and the Central Bahamas. The One Eleuthera Foundation is working with partners like the Cancer Society to house a mammogram machine in Eleuthera. Right now women have to come to Nassau to get mammograms, which can cost over $400 per person; with the mammogram in Eleuthera we can cut it to about $100 and we hope within two years to be serving 1800 mammograms per year.”

The Walk for the Cure, held in October, united over 20,000 passionate participants in 17 countries. In the Bahamas, the event attracted nearly 1,000 registrants, boosted by walks held in Abaco, Eleuthera and Grand Bahama for the first time.

Supplemental fundraising events were held across the country. CIBC FirstCaribbean employees hit the streets for their “Spare Change to Spare a Life” roadside coin drive, and in the branches a decorating competition judged by Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group educated customers on the deadly disease. Also, CIBC FirstCaribbean hosted the first annual Combat Cancer Challenge, partnering with Ultimate U Fitness to create a team obstacle course fundraiser.

The Walk for the Cure started in 2012, as part of the bank’s 10th anniversary celebrations. Since then, the walk has continuously grown, raising over $30,000 in 2012, $100,000 in 2013, $200,000 in 2014, and now $400,000 in 2015

Hailing this year as a phenomenal success, Co-Chairs for this year’s walk, CIBC FirstCaribbean Executives, Trevor Torzsas and Mark St. Hill, praised the efforts of the bank’s staff and the enthusiastic support of the business community who came on board as sponsors.

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(L-R): Shaun Ingraham, One Eleuthera Foundation; Managing Director for CIBC FirstCaribbean Bahamas Marie Rodland-Allen; Trevor Torzsas, Walk for the Cure Co-Chair and Managing Director of Client Experience and Strategy; Laverne Wildgoose Cancer Society of The Bahamas; Sandra Kemp, Cancer Society of The Bahamas.

Trevor Torzsas noted, “We doubled the funds raised and the number of participants this year. We could not have asked for a greater response from everyone involved! We thank everyone who took part in the Walk for the Cure for sharing our vision of a region where persons afflicted by cancer can get the care and support they need and deserve.”

Mark St. Hill added: “The phenomenal growth of this event is a testament to the passion, drive and commitment of Team CIBC FirstCaribbean! However, matching our passion and commitment every step of the way has been our corporate sponsors who have adopted this cause with the same fervour we have, making financial pledges and being present to walk and show support. Many of them have already signalled their intention to making this event even bigger and better in 2016.”

Sandals Resorts and Deloitte were regional Platinum sponsors for the second consecutive year and Aetos Holdings Ltd stepped up as Bahamas Platinum Sponsor. Gold Sponsors were UPS, Bahamas Electricity Corporation and the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas. McKinney Bancroft & Hughes, Hard Rock Café, Restaurants Bahamas, Rubis, Graham Thompson Attorneys, Fujitsu, BTC and Caribbean Bottling Bahamas Limited stepped up to the plate as Silver Sponsors.

This year’s Bronze Sponsors were Atlantic Medical, Chefy’s Deli and Grill, John Bull, Colina, BAF Financial, The Family Medicine Center, MP Law Chambers, Itel BPO Solutions (Grand Bahama), Wemco Security, Damianos, Subway (Grand Bahama) Massy United Insurance, TATA Consultancy Services, El Shaddai Party Rentals & Supplies, Munroe’s Landscaping, Guardsman, Elite Security Agency, Valentines Resort and Marina, Warren Grant Photography, Bahamas Waste, Gippy’s Printing, The Ultimate You Fitness & Wellness Center and Australian Gold.

Managing Director for CIBC Bahamas Marie Rodland-Allen thanked both staff and sponsors for their ongoing commitment.

“We are really pleased to help in any way possible to help in the fight against cancer. We could not have done it without our employees, clients and sponsors. Without them this could not have happened at his magnitude and we look forward to growing and having even more involvement next year and in years to come.”

Each year, the Walk for the Cure is held to coincide with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s CIBC Run for the Cure sponsored by the bank’s parent company, CIBC. CIBC has been supporting this event for more than 20 years, donating millions to breast cancer research in Canada.

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