2009 Press Releases
January 15, 2009
The Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative (BBCI) formally introduced their Board Members at an evening press conference held at the Cancer Society of The Bahamas on January 15. The newly formed board was immediately presented with a check in the amount of $150,000 dollars from Mrs. Susan Larson and Mr. Stephen Howesko.
The BBCI Board Members are Ryan Pinder, Attorney-at-Law; T. Baswell Donaldson, Chairman of Commonwealth Bank, Chairman of the College of the Bahamas, and former Ambassador to the United States, Dr. John Lunn, Oncologist, Dr. Colin Archer, Methodist Minister and former president of the Methodist Conference, Mrs. Nancy Kelly, proprietor of Kelly’s Home Center Ltd.
Terry Fountain, President of Cancer Society in his welcome remarks underscored the importance of the establishment of the BBCI Board as a vehicle to continue to promote breast cancer awareness in the
“With a new BBCI Board of Directors, all of us look forward also to new challenges and new successes in the fight against breast cancer in the months that lie ahead” said U.S. Ambassador Ned L. Siegel. “Tonight marks a new beginning in achieving the goals of the BBCI in early detection, education and care”, he said.
Mrs. Stephanie Siegel, wife of Ambassador Siegel, championed the cause of breast cancer awareness in The Bahamas. “Tonight is the culmination of all the hard work and total commitment by everyone involved. Coming to The Bahamas, it was my own personal desire to empower women with respect to breast cancer --yet over the last year, the women of The Bahamas have empowered – and inspired – me with their determination, their courage, and their grace in facing breast cancer”.
On August 27, 2008, Ambassador Siegel announced the launch of the BBCI, 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, in addition to the observations of Bahamian and American medical professionals, survivors and supporters committed to changing the status quo and creating greater awareness about the importance of early detection in saving lives.