CANCER SOCIETY OF THE BAHAMAS

April 2001 Table of Contents

CANCER SOCIETY OF THE BAHAMAS
(Abaco Branch)

The Annual General Meeting for the Society covering the year February 200 to January 2001 took place in Nassau on 20th February at the Society's headquarters in Nassau. Present were representatives of the branches on Abaco, Eleuthera and Grand Bahama.

President Hugh Cottis was able to report on an active year for the Abaco Branch. During the year the Branch has continued to assist cancer patients with transportation costs, and those for whom this is not an option, other means of easing their burdens have been found. $5,200 was spent in this manner.
Donations in the sum of $5,590 were gratefully received. These included a significant contribution from Pinewoods Nursery who donated a portion of plant sales made during a Cancer Awareness period. Additional funds arose from a successful T-shirt day. Many thanks to those who supported this venture. Two wheelchairs were donated to the Branch by David and Wendy Boehm, regular visitors to Treasure Cay. These chairs were then presented to the clinics at Marsh Harbour and Coopers Town. A donated Boston Whaler was sold to supplement funds.

Branch funds were also supplemented by several In Memoriam donations during the year. These were made in memory of Van Stratton, James Bacon, Sivdas Arangil, Euphemia Stratton, Oswald Roberts, Curtis Sawyer, Todd Ketchum and Cyril Pinder, and totalled $2,745. Many of the foregoing were supportive of the Society's efforts and they will be missed from the community. The Society is most appreciative of those who choose to remember loved ones in this fashion as they should know that their thoughtfulness is serving a worthy purpose.

Two of our most dedicated workers died during the year. Sivdas Arangil and James Bacon were both active members of the Society from its inception. Nurse Peggy Cooper will also be greatly missed. She was transferred to Nassau following a serious illness. Peggy attended the AGM and now looks well, which will come as a relief to those who owe her a debt of gratitude.

The annual pap smear and prostate examination clinics, sponsored by the Society, were well supported. Four clinics took place utilising visiting volunteer doctors from Nassau and resident physicians. Clinics were held at Marsh Harbour, Coopers Town, Sandy Point and Moores Island, examining a total of 206 persons. Although the number of women still far exceeds the men availing themselves of this free service, there was a pleasing increase in the number of males coming forward. As with all forms of cancer, early detection of the problem is crucial to successful treatment. The clinics 2001 are set for 6th October. Mark your calendars now!

At the conclusion of the Abaco report to the Annual General Meeting, a cheque for $3,000 was presented to Dr Davidson Hepburn. This brings our Branch's contribution to the Cancer Caring Centre project to $30,000. Fund raising for this two million dollar project is now headed by Dr Hepburn and Mr Anthony Hepburn, who reported that at this time the fund stands at $678.832. When a reality, this hospice will be of benefit to Family Island patients and indeed all of those afflicted with cancer who need surroundings of comfort and a staff sympathetic to their problems.

Although not strictly in the year under review, the Branch is please to announce the formation of a Support Group. The group meets on Tuesdays at 6 pm in the Community Library in Marsh Harbour under the guidance of Alice Nightingale and Nurse Carolyn Russell. It is hoped that cancer survivors, those with family members having the disease, and anyone needing information, will share their experiences and be of comfort to those in need.

In conclusion, the Society wishes to express its thanks to a very generous Abaco business community and general public. This was manifest in our recent raffle which raised $5,500 - a record for this event. With the high incidence of cancer in our community, fund raising, increasing the awareness of measures by the written and broadcast word, free pap smear and prostate clinics, contributions to the Cancer Caring centre, and helping cancer patients with air fares remain our principal goals.

April 2001 Table of Contents