Club de demas Hispanas de las Bahamas, the Hispanic Women’s Club of the Bahamas donated $10,000 to assist Bahamian women in the fight against breast cancer and to save lives. This year, proceeds from their annual fundraiser held at the Poop Deck West were donated to the Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative Foundation (BBCIF).
The funds donated from the Hispanic Women’s Club will assist Bahamian women who are high risk, to have genetic testing for the BRCA1 gene. Accepting the generous donation, Executive Director Melissa Major stated, “On behalf of the President and Board members of BBCIF I would like to thank the Hispanic Women’s Club for their dedication and efforts for giving BBCIF this donation. The proceeds will definitely help with our research.” The Hispanic Women’s Club have been supporting Bahamian charities for over 25 years as well as providing assistance for global disaster relief to such countries as Mexico and Haiti.
Women in the Bahamas have been shown to have the highest prevalence of a genetic mutation that places them at a higher risk for developing breast cancer. Through research, it was announced that around 23 per cent of Bahamian women diagnosed carry the BRCA1 gene mutation, which puts them at greater risk of breast cancer. The study discovered that Bahamian women have the highest prevalence of the genetic mutation out of any population in the world. Of these, around half of the women, 48 per cent, are under age 50. Every Bahamian woman diagnosed with breast cancer should be tested for the gene as well as women at high risk.
The BBCI is a public-private partnership in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy, Bahamas Ministry of Health, Public Hospitals Authority, Bahamian Health Care Professionals, the Cancer Society of the Bahamas, Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, the Bahamas Christian Council, Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute and international breast cancer advocacy organization Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The initiative was created based on the alarming findings of researchers, creating greater awareness about the importance of early detection in saving lives. For more information about the BBCIF, telephone (242)-225-6401.
Submitted By Michele Rassin
(Pictured l-r: Natalie Zatarain, Secretary; Maria Jadad-Gonzales; Sonia Cartwright, Treasure, Hispanic Women’s Club; Melissa Major Executive Director BBCI, Monica Cole, President; and Michele Rassin)
