Lions launch health campaign

(CNS): The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens kicked off their Breast Cancer Awareness month yesterday with an opening ceremony in Heroes Square. This annual event continues to be very important to the health of the local community not least for the free mammograms which the club provides to women with inadequate health coverage. This year things got off to a great start after Anthony Eden the Minster for Heath and Humans Services gave the club a cheque for CI$10,000.

Commending the Lions hard work in raising awareness and educating the community about the importance of early detection and healthy living in preventing Breast Cancer he said that their work had certainly saved lives.

This year’s theme is Prevention through service and education and during the month of October there will be a series of public education meetings throughout the districts where women will be able to collect vouchers for free mammograms as well as a number of special clinics. Starting today in East End Thursday, 2 October the first clinic will be hosted until 12 noon and the public meeting starts at 7:30 pm this evening at the United Church Hall. Dress down in pink day will be on Friday 10 October and the Brenda Tibbetts Lund 5K Memorial run/walk starts at 6:00 am at West Bat public beach on Saturday 25 October.

October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month worldwide and it became an annual event in Cayman from 1997when Lion Merilda Miller had a dear friend and colleague who was diagnosed with the disease. The Club set out to make support and early detection information more available to women living in the Cayman Islands and since then has supported the month long event through community outreach, the issuing of free mammogram vouchers, fundraisers and educational materials.

The Club said that the programme helps both men and women cope with breast cancer, beginning with the possibility of its diagnosis and continuing through treatment and recovery, if necessary. The recommendation is that mammograms are done once every two years for those over 40 and once every year for those who are 50 and over.

Meeting Schedule from 7:30pm — Thursday, October 2nd – East End – East End United Church Hall
Tuesday, October 7th – North Side – United Church Hall
Monday, October 13th – Bodden Town – Bodden Town Primary School
Thursday, October 16th – West Bay – West Bay Primary School
Thursday, October 23rd – Savannah – Savannah Primary School
Thursday, October 30th – George Town – Mary Miller Hall

District Clinics schedule — Thursday, October 2nd – 9 am – 12 pm – East End
Tuesday, October 7th – 9 am – 12 pm – North Side
Monday, October 13th – 9 am – 12 pm – West Bay
Wednesday, October 15th – 9 am – 12 pm – Bodden Town
Tuesday, October 28th – 9 am – 12 pm – George Town

For more info log onto www.lctgbreastcancerawareness.com