Lions Club of Grand Cayman donates to charities

The Cayman Islands Cancer Society and Cayman Islands HospiceCare each received $15,000 from the Lions Club of Grand Cayman as part of the proceeds raised by walkers and runners during the club’s Prostate and Colon Cancer Event three-day walk and run campaign, known as PACCE.

Lions Colleen Burke, Carmin Godfrey, Tannya Mortimer and John Ebanks present checks to grand prize winner Faith Ebanks, third from left, Jennifer Weber of the Cayman Islands Cancer Society, center, and Kerrie McMillan of Cayman HospiceCare.

Carmin Godfrey, chairwoman of the PACCE committee, said this year’s total of $51,000 was raised by the 160 participants.

Ms. Godfrey said the campaign, now in its fifth year, has educated people in the Cayman Islands, primarily men, on the effects and prevention of prostate, colon and testicular cancer, she said.

“We have seen the awareness level grow from year to year, and the myths that have prevented many men from getting checked are becoming less,” said Ms. Godfrey.

Faith Ebanks won the grand prize, a cruise or vacation package compliments of Bodden Shipping Agency. She raised $4,200 and for her efforts she received the prize valued at $5,000.

Jacques Scott
The walk/run campaign is held each year in memory of past Lion President Delano Hislop, who died from colon cancer in January 2011.

Ms. Godfrey said free screenings will be available during the meeting.

The club’s next awareness meeting is in conjunction with the Movember event at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Lions Community Centre.