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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Cancer Society of The Bahamas announces national telethon that will kick-off a $3 million building fund campaign geared toward doubling the size of the Cancer Caring Centre, adding 16 new rooms and creating Nassau’s first hospice. The telethon will be held on Sunday, May 31 at the Imperial Ballroom of Atlantis from 1-5pm. The telethon will be broadcast live on Cable 12, JCN and ZNS.
Pictured, seated, l-r: Susan Roberts, founder of The Cancer Society and Lovern Wildgoose, president Cancer Society of The Bahamas. Standing, l-r: Dr. Williamson Chea, Cancer Society Vice President; Diane Phillips, public relations consultant & J. Barrie Farrington, Retired Atlantis Senior Vice President, Administration.
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Bahamian leaders including businesspersons, government officials and medical professionals will pool their efforts to handle phone lines and volunteer their time for the first ever Cancer Society telethon – an event that will raise money for a critical cause and bring out families to hear live entertainment and touching personal stories.
The telethon, set for Sunday, May 31, will be held at the Imperial Ballroom at Atlantis from 1 to 5 pm. Atlantis, along with several media houses, is partnering with the Cancer Society for the telethon that will kick-off a $3 million building fund campaign geared toward doubling the size of the Cancer Caring Centre, adding 16 new rooms and creating Nassau’s first hospice.
“Cancer knows no gender,” said Lovern Wildgoose, President of The Cancer Society of The Bahamas which operates the Cancer Caring Centre. “Cancer knows no race. Cancer knows no age. Cancer knows no social status. Cancer affects us all.”
Beginning at 1 pm, the family event will be broadcast live throughout the country through a partnership with ZNS, Cable 12 and JCN with entertainment being provided by a number of popular Bahamian artists including Visage and Kirkland “K.B.” Bodie. Telethon hosts include Jessica Robertson, Paul Fernander, Lester Cox, comedian and on-air personality Naughty and Eddie Carter.
With cancer as the number two cause of death in Bahamians, the Cancer Caring Centre plays an increasingly important role in patient care, acting as a support, resource and counseling hub, providing a place to stay, facilitating treatments by taking patients to appointments and lending emotional support through personal and group attention throughout the treatment process and, for many survivors, remaining a strong foundation.
Since opening its doors in 2006, service has been provided to more than 800 patients and there is always a waiting list, which, according to Wildgoose speaks to why the expansion of the facility is so important.
“We help so many people especially from our Family Islands who might otherwise have nowhere to stay and thus their treatment could be delayed, putting their futures on hold and endangering their chances of recovery,” said the local Cancer Society President. “It is so hard to face someone who has just been diagnosed and say, ‘We have no room. Can you wait?’ The more rooms we can offer, the more people we can help and the more lives we can possibly save.”
The 3-storey Cancer Caring Centre off Collins Avenue is nestled among mature trees and offers a sense of tranquility. It is located near hospitals, laboratories, medical professionals and facilities in what is generally considered the heart of New Providence’s medical community. Currently each of its 10 rooms is filled with ambient and natural light, equipped with a small patio for fresh air and furnished to make patients and their families feel at home. Those staying at the Centre help out making meals in a communal kitchen. They share stories and lend support to one another. Volunteers who staff the Centre along with administrative and medical professionals are never far away. There are also talks and exercise classes.
“We are so grateful to Atlantis and to all the media houses that are lending their support,” said Ms. Wildgoose. “We expect this to be an unforgettable afternoon with families coming out to support a cause that benefits everyone.”
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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