Beverage giant, Banks DIH Limited, on Monday, hosted a Breast Cancer Awareness programme for employees, cancer patients and survivors at their Sports Club, Thirst Park, Georgetown.

Oncologist Dr. Latoya Gooding of the Giving Hope Foundation delivered the feature address in which she reassured the attendees that breast cancer is not a death sentence and urged women to seek early screening to ensure they are cancer-free.

“You can overcome cancer and some survivors of the disease are now living their best lives following treatment, however, early detection is necessary,” Gooding was quoted as saying in a Banks DIH release.

Dr. Gooding said that younger women are being diagnosed with breast cancer and men have also been diagnosed with the illness. She provided participants with information on the risk, treatment and recovery of the disease.

Meanwhile, Mr. Andrew Carto, Human Resources Director, said the awareness session was timely as more women are becoming mindful of the threat of breast cancer.

Sixteen cancer patients and survivors attached to Georgetown Public Hospital Oncology Clinic, Cancer Institute of Guyana and the Giving Hope Foundation, were presented with hampers and monetary donations by the Company.

Breast Cancer Awareness month is being observed in October and Banks DIH Limited has organised a series of events to coincide with activities.

Last Saturday, the company teamed up with Citizens Bank Inc. for a two-day Golf Tournament at Lusignan Golf Club on the East Coast Demerara, while on Sunday, New Amsterdam Qik Serv hosted over 60 bikers of the Assassin Biker Club in an awareness campaign named “Bikers Against Breast Cancer”.
The bikers rode from Georgetown to New Amsterdam and later joined racing cyclists in Berbice in lap of honour around the township, before releasing balloons into the air as a sign of hope.