The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Cancer Society of Grand Bahama is in need of a new office space or building in order to continue the important role it plays in the fight against the disease and helping sufferers in Grand Bahama.

The organisation’s office in the Pioneer’s Professional Plaza in Freeport was severely damaged during Hurricane Matthew in October.

Lorine Miller, president of the Cancer Society of Grand Bahama, is appealing to corporate Grand Bahama and the public to assist the non-profit organisation with a building or office space to operate from.

“The building we have been in for more than 15 years was destroyed, and so we are displaced and in need of a building or a space to operate and hold meetings. And so we are appealing to the public for help because we do not want to have to close our doors after 40 years,” she said.

The Cancer Society was established by an Act of Parliament in 1976, and celebrated 40 years of existence in the Bahamas last year. The Grand Bahama branch was established in 1986.

Ms Miller noted that there are 12 affiliate branches in Grand Bahama. She said that US Too, a cancer support group for men, also operated from their office in Freeport.

“Persons cannot come to us for help right now, and we would like if a home could be donated, but would gladly accept a building or space to operate out of,” she said.

In addition to the hurricane damage, last week thieves broke in and trashed the office.

Ms Miller stressed that the organisation relies solely on fundraising and donations to help people with cancer and that people visit the office daily for various things. “We provide potcaths that patients need for chemotherapy treatments; purchase plane tickets for patients to fly to New Providence for treatment; assist in providing funding for bone scans; and provide accommodations to patients and a family member at our Healing Centre in Nassau,” she said.

The organisation also educates the public about cancer by providing brochures and important information about the disease.

Even though the Cancer Society is without an office in Freeport, the staff continues to assist by providing women with mammogram screenings at the Sunrise Medical Centre. “Because we do not have an office anymore, my office manager had to hit the streets in her car to deliver the results to persons at their homes and at work,” Ms Miller said.

She said that cancer is prevalent in Grand Bahama. “We have 12 rooms at our Healing Centre in Nassau, and 50 per cent of those rooms are booked with persons from Freeport,” she reported. “So struggle is real with cancer and the fight continues, and to educate Bahamians about the disease and prevention.”

Ms Miller noted that there has been a drastic decline in donations to the organisation since the implementation of Value-Added Tax (VAT) and said the organisation has to hold events to raise money. Although the Hope Ball Committee holds gala fundraising for cancer, none of the proceeds are given to the Cancer Society.