Regatta to raise funds to fight cancer

The Annual Cancer Benefit Regatta 2004 is a partnership with the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society (TTCS) and the South Cancer Support Group (SCSG). This association has enjoyed relative success during the course of its four-year existence. This year’s sailing regatta will come off on April 3-4, when boats are expected to benefit from prevailing easterly winds, at the Trinidad and Tobago Sailing Association’s (TTSA) Headquar-ters in Chaguaramas. The aim is to raise funds for the improvement of  facilities and for educational purposes. A welcome addition to this year’s event is a Silent Art Action which is assisted by Horizons, 101 Art Gallery and Art Creators and features 59 pieces from local artists who include Sundiata, Annie Merry, Louise Orr, Jackie Hinkson and Frauelien Rudder among others in an effort to surpass the $105,000 raised last year.

The pieces will be on display from 9 am and the auction on April 3 will begin at 5.30 pm. Members of the public can participate in the auction by invitation only, these can be requested from the TTSA or the art galleries. A great turnout is expected and Dr Linda Hadeed, executive board member of the TTCS, speaking at the launch yesterday at Central Bank Plaza revealed that she expects this year’s event would continue to contribute favourably to the organisation’s efforts to fight and alleviate the suffering of those affected by cancer. Already the TTCS has added a Mobile Cancer Screening Unit in which Pap smear testing and breast examinations are made available to remote rural communities. But there is a further need for clinic equipment, a Coloposcopy machine, the facilitation of ongoing expansion and the construction of a hospice for the terminally ill.

Chief Executive Officer of SCSG, Terry Amirali-Rambharant, was also full of praise for the Regatta which has aided its efforts to promote cancer awareness and education, screening, counselling and support to individuals afflicted with and affected by cancer. The SCSG has begun a drive to help early detection of the disease, an effort co-ordinated with the already existing health care system. The group’s focus this year is the education and awareness of members of rural communities throughout south and central Trinidad. Information seminars in ten rural communities during which bro-chures and counselling would be made available will facilitate the sensitising of members of the communities to the prominence of cancer which is currently the number two cause of death in Trinidad and Tobago. The Peake Race Day, the first of the two days of races in three classes — Racing, Racer/Cruiser and Cruising — will begin at noon and end at approximately 3.30 pm.

The second day begins at 11 am with the boats returning at 4 pm. As outlined by “Mayumi” skipper and friend of the TTSA, Joe Brown, the race will be as important as every other during the season and keen competition among a 30-boat field of domestic and international boats is expected. The Regatta is sponsored by Solimar, Soca Sails, Peake Yacht Services, Mount Gay Rum Barbados, Power Boats, Budget Marine, Scotiabank, Wine Not, IMS Yacht Services, Rostant Advertising, The Mortgage Bank, Boaters’ Enterprise Limited and the TTSA. Registration is TT$400 per boat; all proceeds go toward ongoing cancer research and skippers will be briefed on Friday, April 2 at the TTSA Board Room at 6.30 pm. For further information contact the TTSA at 634-4519 or 634-4210, the TTCS at 622-6827 or the SCSG at 652-9144.