Gisele Marfleet (Left), Chairman of the Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Foundation and Anya M. Schnoor (Right) – Managing Director, Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited are all smiles with the top 3 winners in the Port of Spain race – (L-R): Sarah Ouelette (2nd place), Thais Guitterez (3rd place) and Tonya Nero (1st place)
Gisele Marfleet, Chairman of the Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Foundation told Womanwise, “The race, which is open to 6,000 female participants across three venues sold out over one week before the event date this year, testament to not only the fantastic support this 5k receives, but the fight against breast cancer on the whole.” The Chairman then explained: “Through the staging of this event, the funds raised each year enable the Foundation to offer women throughout Trinidad and Tobago access to free breast cancer screenings, as well as ultrasounds and mammograms. To date, the Scotiabank Women Against Breast Cancer Programme has funded over 16,000 women who required these services. It is particularly noteworthy that the majority of women who have accessed the free screening are those who may otherwise be unable to afford it. The Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Foundation is pleased to be able to provide this much needed screening programme towards early detection of breast cancer.”
The three venues for the highly anticipated event included Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain; Store Bay, Tobago and Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre. Simultaneous races were held at these venues to allow for greater national involvement and participation. Participants of the race – all committed to the cause – had to face a five-kilometre (3.1 miles) race route. “The route for the largest venue (Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain) began on the South Eastern end of the Savannah, near Memorial Park and proceeded onto St. Clair Avenue onto Wildflower Park and continued around the Savannah to the finish line, on the paved area of the Savannah, opposite Frederick Street,” Marfleet explained. At the Port-of-Spain leg of the race there were also breast cancer survivors who were celebrated and who re-inforced the importance of breast cancer screening. In addition to raising awareness, what was the reward for winners? The Chairman said, “We had a myriad of sponsors on board for this year’s event, who contributed the prizes distributed to the age categories, mother/daughter and overall winners. Some of the prizes in this year’s race included airline tickets courtesy Caribbean Airlines, weekend stays at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad and Magdalena Grand, Tobago, as well as hampers courtesy Stechers, Revlon, Pantene and Simple, to name a few.”
So was the event been a success? Posed with this question, Marfleet responded by saying “The event was a tremendous success. Participants, sponsors and all other key stakeholders were pleased.” When asked if Scotiabank achieved its objectives, she insisted: “Yes, the Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Foundation did achieve its objectives with this event. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women in Trinidad and Tobago. It is for this reason, that in 1999, Scotiabank, decided to conceptualize a fund-raising effort to contribute in a meaningful manner in the fight against this disease that affects so many.” If Scotiabank could say one thing to those with cancer or to the relatives of those with the disease what would it be? “Breast Cancer is very prevalent, so much so that we probably all know someone who has been affected by the disease. The Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Foundation urges all women, particularly those over the age of 40, to undertake breast cancer screening. Early detection improves the prognosis of a woman with this disease,” Marfleet said. In addition to the Scotiabank Women Against Breast Cancer 5k Classic, the Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Foundations also hosts a Breast Cancer Golf Tournament (during the month of May at the St. Andrew’s Golf Course). Scotiabank is committed to assisting those with the disease and to helping prevent the disease, as a result funds generated from these events help underwrite the cost of the free breast cancer screening clinics which the Foundation hosts annually.
