Relay for Life seeks financial aid

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

Manager of the St Ann and St Mary branch of the Jamaica Cancer Society, Marilyn Williams, is appealing for support to help the branch reach its five million dollar fund-raising target this year.

"At the moment, we are struggling a bit with sponsorship," Williams told The Gleaner at the launch of the branch's Relay for Life and Survivors' Get Together on Friday night at John Crow's Tavern in Ocho Rios.

"The target this year is five million dollars and we're not even quarter of the way there yet, so we're begging everybody to come on board and support us because all the money will go to helping the (cancer) patients."

The annual Relay for Life and Survivors' Get Together takes place on Saturday, October 8, from 6 p.m. and runs until 6 the following morning.

The venue is the Turtle River Park in Ocho Rios.

The event is one of several activities put on yearly by the branch to raise funds to run its support programmes for cancer victims. These activities include a movie in March, a polo match in May, and an oldies dance in July.

The support programme offered to patients is long, explained Williams

"We educate, we do testing, go to the villages and do testing, we counsel, we take patients to the hospital and to the doctor, we visit patients at home and in the hospital," Williams said.

Last year the branch reached its $3.7 million target and while things are moving a bit more slowly this year, Williams is hopeful the $5 million target will be realised.

"We're being hopeful," Williams said, adding: "There is a need out there for it and that's why we're hopeful."