Over 90 CIBC FirstCaribbean bank staff, family, friends and BVI Cancer Society supporters took part in a 7-mile dawn walk in support of the fight against cancer. Photo: CIBC FirstCaribbean

CIBC FirstCaribbean colleagues keep up a steady pace in the bank's dawn walk in support of the fight against cancer. Photo: CIBC FirstCaribbean

The walk, which also raised funds for the BVI Cancer Society, was one of several scores of similar events that took place over the weekend across the CIBC group of companies in the Caribbean and Canada in support of local cancer organisations.

Nearly 3,000 CIBC FirstCaribbean employees, friends and family in the Caribbean joined thousands of employees, family and friends of Team CIBC in 60 different Run sites across Canada taking part in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s CIBC Run for the Cure. 

Participants in the BVI started off from the CIBC FirstCaribbean branch in Road Town and walked to Nanny Cay returning to the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park for a final commemorative act of releasing balloons in memory of those who have lost their battles against Cancer. The funds for the BVI Cancer Society were raised from CIBC FirstCaribbean BVI employee donations and were matched by CIBC FirstCaribbean’s charitable foundation. 

“This was a poignant occasion for many of us,” said Peter Edmunds, Country Manager for CIBC FirstCaribbean in the BVI. “Cancer does not select its victims and there are very few that took part in this walk that did not have a family member or friend who has battled against the disease. We were pleased to have been joined by members of the BVI Cancer Society and the BVI Walkers’ clubs in a show of support of the Bank’s internal efforts. Next year, we plan to invite all members of the public to take part in this fund raiser.”

CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Rik Parkhill, said: “We see this as an integral part of CIBC FirstCaribbean’s continuing commitment to be engaged with the real issues facing our clients and their communities. By becoming personally involved in the event, by showing up and walking or running, together we can each demonstrate that CIBC FirstCaribbean’s commitment to the Caribbean is about more than handing over a donation.”

The inaugural annual event for all 17 CIBC FirstCaribbean International Banks in the region builds on the 16 years during which the Bank’s parent company, CIBC, has been at the forefront of supporting research to find a cure for cancer through its title sponsorship of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s CIBC Run for the Cure. CIBC FirstCaribbean plans to partner with organizations supporting those affected by cancer to open the event to the public from 2013.

As part of its support of the fight against cancer and in recognition of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Tortola branch of the Bank has set up a table in the retail banking hall with information provided by the BVI Cancer Society.