Flanked by staff and sponsor representatives from O’Neal Webster, Fidelity Corporate Services and Harneys, Ms. Stephane Burke (2nd left), Country Manager, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank presents Miss Gloria A. Fahie (5th left) with a check for $20, 015 as funds raised through the bank’s annual Walk for the Cure initiative. Photo: Provided

Participants in the CIBC FirstCaribbean Walk for the Cure included bank staff and their families, members of the BVI Cancer Society, local sponsors BCQS, Captiva, Conyers, Dill & Pearman, Fidelity Corporate Services, Harneys, JOMA Properties, O’Neal Webster, One Mart, Rawlinson & Hunter, VP Bank and Bank of Asia as well as groups and people from the community including nurses specializing in cancer care at the hospital. Photo: Provided

Raised throughout the year, the funds came as part of the CIBC FirstCaribbean’s 'Walk for the Cure' annual initiative—which takes place across the region in September and October—to increase the public’s awareness about cancer and to raise funds for the local cancer association.

20K Raised

According to the release, Ms Stephane Burke, Country Manager, CIBC FirstCaribbean handed over the cheque to Mrs Gloria A. Fahie, President of the Cancer Society on Tuesday, December 11, 2019, in the presence of staff and sponsors in the main banking hall of the BVI branch.

“We are very pleased that we were able to more than double our donation to the BVI Cancer Society this year thanks to the support we received from the 12 corporate sponsors of the walk, our in-house team and members of the public,” Ms Burke noted.

Contributions to the fund were also made by the bank’s staff through in-house activities including donations from collection boxes around the branch and fees from a record 246 registrants for the ‘Walk for the Cure’ and from corporate sponsorship of the annual event.

Combined Forces

“CIBC FirstCaribbean is the only bank that has consistently financially supported the BVI Cancer Society with an annual initiative,” Mrs Fahie said.

“The fact that the donation increased substantially this year is an encouraging indication of the growing awareness of the Walk for the Cure and its purpose. It is reassuring for us to know that we can rely on the bank’s efforts to raise substantial funds to help us undertake our work in the community,” she said. 

“We are very thankful for their commitment and also to all the businesses and persons that contributed to the funds and participated in the walk.”

The not-for-profit organization provides support to cancer patients and their caregivers including guidance, information and counselling and funding for mammograms and treatments.

According to CIBC FirstCaribbean, the company has supported the BVI Cancer Society since 2011 and has invited the society to combine its annual walk with the Walk for the Cure in 2019.

The joint event is expected to create a greater impact on their mutual campaign to raise awareness of the disease and funding through wider community participation.