Jun 2010 Financial News

RBTT adds $1.2m to fight children’s cancer

Jun 23, 2010

RBTT has contributed an additional $1.2 million to the Brian Lara-chaired Cancer Treatment Foundation, representing the second tranche of funding in support of children diagnosed with cancer. The foundation administers the fund.

In June 2009, RBC and RBTT established the Caribbean Children’s Cancer Fund, with a pledge to contribute $1.2 million annually up to 2013, while raising additional funds through staff and public fund-raisers. The bank said in a statement that the fund is used to provide the treatment and care required by the children to overcome the disease, including surgery. It is also used to pay the cost of sending biopsy specimens abroad for testing, which results in faster diagnosis of the cancer, earlier treatment and a more positive prognosis. “The emotional and financial burden of paediatric cancer is enormous,” Sookoo said in the statement. “It is important that a child receives prompt and specific treatment, which can be complex and costly. The greater the contribution to the fund, the more children we can save from this dreadful affliction.”

To date, the Caribbean Children’s Cancer Fund has assisted three children diagnosed with cancer in the region. The first is a 16-year-old boy from Grenada, previously diagnosed with lymphoma; the second was a two-year-old boy from T&T diagnosed with liver cancer; and the third was a seven-year-old girl in The Bahamas diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, a common type of bone cancer found in children. Most recently, a 13-year-old boy from Trinidad received a positron emission tomography (PET) scan to aid in diagnosis. Public donations and staff fund-raisers have raised more than $630,000. The latest Caribbean Children’s Cancer fund-raiser hosted by RBTT was the premiere of the Karate Kid movie on June 8 at MovieTowne, which raised more than $30,000.

RBTT and the Cancer Treatment Foundation’s Ribbons of Hope mall tour continues every Saturday during July to September to raise awareness about children’s cancer and gain support for the fund. A children’s art competition will be launched in September to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness month.  Contributions to the cancer fund can be made into account number: 8911047135, at any RBTT branch.


Source:
Trinidad Guardian
Wednesday June 23, 2010

http://guardian.co.tt/business/business/2010/06/23/rbtt-adds-12m-fight-children-s-cancer