(L-R) tALKING Points Co-hosts Damion C. Grange, Mrs Violet Thomas-Gaul, guest President of Breast Friends Lisa Adamson, and Co-Host Elvin Grant. Photo: Facebook

Breast Friends is a non-profit organisation assisting members of the Virgin Islands community with cancer screenings, treatment and associated costs. Photo: Facebook/Breast Friends BVI

President of Breast Friends, Lisa Adamson, explained that Breast Friends began as a free mammogram programme in 2007. The Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) now serves the community by facilitating mammograms, prostate screening, as well as some associated costs relating to getting screened and treatment upon diagnosis. 

The process, as explained by Adamson during Talking Points on Monday, February 17, 2025, on ZBVI 780 AM, is an easy one. 

Those interested in getting a mammogram done will contact her, and she will direct them to go to Eureka Medical Clinic or B&F Medical. 

“Both [Eureka and B&F] know all about this. They then send me an invoice for any mammograms,” she said. 

Breast Friends was formed before the National Health Insurance scheme was created, and back then, paid the total cost for screenings. Now, she said they cover the copayments. 

‘We want to take this burden’- Lisa Adamson

Adamson said people on the sister islands are not aware that Breast Friends also covers transportation to Tortola for screening, doctor’s visits and treatment. 

“Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost van Dyke, all our sister islands, they don’t have to pay for that. We just want to take this burden off because then we feel that will then give them the mentality of this is great, I will go from and get screened because I can’t afford it this month or next month…we don’t want that,” she added. 

Breast Friends is also working closely with hospital administrators to not only get the message of Breast Friends out but to continue its awareness campaign. 

According to Breast Friends' Facebook Page, as of December 13, 2024, following its fundraising Color Me Run/Walk, nine mammograms and the cost of one breast cancer treatment were paid for. 

Almost no overhead cost- Lisa Adamson

Co-host Violet Thomas-Gaul asked Adamson about the NPO’s spending in terms of running day-to-day business. 

Adamson explained that Breast Friends has no overhead spending and that what is raised yearly is used to assist members of the Virgin Islands (VI) community. 

From the Breast Friends’ event last year, she revealed that over $30,000 was raised. The expenses from the event were minimal, and donations and sponsors Breast Friends received assisted with that. 

“So obviously the t-shirts and the powder were the main concerns and we paid for this and some advertising. So we try to keep everything to the bare minimum as well so the money stays in there. We don’t have rent to pay, we don’t have to pay admin, nothing like that, so all of that money is there to go towards helping people,” she explained.