The staff were invited to, participate in an early morning hike on the Cow Hill Trail, attend a presentation on breast cancer given by Dr. Kedrick Pickering and to take part in “Pink Thursday” whereby everyone was encouraged to wear pink to increase awareness of the disease.

“The primary reason we actively organised these events is because this is a first rate opportunity to remind women in our community to be breast aware for earlier detection” explained Sharon Flax Mars, Human Resource Director at Rosewood Little Dix Bay.

“I am particularly pleased to be able to report that we were also able to offer our staff and their families a reduced rate on mammograms through our insurance provider. We hope that these initiatives have not only have helped to highlight the importance of screening exams for early breast cancer detection but also to encourage our staff on an ongoing basis, to take their health seriously in order to reduce their chances of developing this or other diseases. We would like to encourage all members of staff, our friends and our families to participate in the various initiatives that have been organised to raise funds through donations that will go towards paying the full cost of mammograms for women of the BVI who have no health insurance and who cannot afford the cost of a mammogram,” she added.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer). Although African-American women have a slightly lower incidence of breast cancer after age 40 than Caucasian women, they have a slightly higher incidence rate of breast cancer before age 40. However, African-American women are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age. Breast cancer is much less common in males; by comparison, the disease is about 100 times more common among women.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay Resort intends to expand on this year’s initiatives to make these annual events.