Wed | Sep 30, 2026

Credit union gives a helping hand to 8-y-o cancer patient

Published:Monday | December 13, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Sandra Thompson (right), general manager of the St Catherine Co-operative Credit Union, hands a cheque for $50,000 to Georgette Brewster to help her daughter, Faith Hutchinson, with medical expenses. - Photo by Rasbert Turner

Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

St Catherine Co-operative Credit Union has brought a bright smile to the face of a woman whose daughter has been stricken with bone cancer.

Georgette Brewster gratefully accepted a cheque for $50,000 from the credit union last Thursday.

"I am very thankful that my daughter, Faith Hutchinson, will be able to now fill this prescription, as it will help to complete part four of a nine-part treatment," Brewster said, while showing a prescription for $42,000.

She told The Gleaner that her eight-year-old daughter's condition - osteogenic sarcoma, which has forced her to stay home since May - has had a serious toll on the family.

The mother of four said the credit union's intervention was timely.

"Each stage of the treatment cost $100,000, and it will take about nine treatments for her to return to a normal lifestyle," Brewster disclosed. "Right now, she is at home, and I want her to return to school, as she is being robbed of her education. It is sad."

Sandra Thompson, general manager of the credit union, said the gesture was in line with the organisation's commitment to give back to the community in which it operates.

"When the case of Faith was brought to us, we did not hesitate to offer our assistance. We are aware it's not a great deal of money, (but) it will assist in getting medicine for her treatment,'' Thompson said.

Faith, a student of the Victoria Primary School, was discovered to have cancer in May after falling while playing.

rasbert.turner@gleanerjm.com