Women race against breast cancer

The 5K Classic in aid  Women Against Breast Cancer will be staged on Saturday, September 20 at King George V Park, Port-of-Spain and Scotiabank Car Park, Scarborough Tobago.

This is the fifth  year  that the organisation has teamed up with Scotiabank for the effort, a period during which assessment revealed a more urgent need for immediate medical attention on the disease. Due to the rate of one in every eight women having the disease, the Women Against Breast Cancer in 2001 changed their focus from the purchase of a Mobile Mammography Unit to early detection of the disease through the Breast Cancer Screening Programme. The screening programme was piloted at the Couva Health Facility in July 2001 and then introduced to health centres throughout Tobago and Port-of- Spain. The clinics were hosted at the Siparia and Indian Walk Health Centres in July 2002 and will resume in September.

The Breast Cancer Fund pays doctors and nurses to conduct the initial examination, and also stands the cost for the Mammogram or Ultrasound if needed. Should it be necessary, the fund also pays Elders Associates for psychological counseling for both the patient and family. The Scotiabank Breast Cancer Screening Programme has spent $215,000 raised from events supported by wellwishers and has helped 3,500 women on these clinics,  The organizers would like to thank all who have supported this effort through the years. The 5K Classic will be organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Road Runners and is open to all ages. There will be awards for schools, athletic clubs, gyms and sports clubs, government ministries, financial, media and advertising and manufacturing and trading corporations. Registration forms are available at the starting line and all finishers will receive a medal.