For almost 50 years, the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society (TTCS) has been working on behalf of cancer patients and their families to provide opportunities for better health care as they battle this dreaded disease. Even during this time of uncertainty, the TTCS remains committed to the education and continued screening of cancer.
The TTCS was founded in 1969 with the mission: To create and promote greater awareness of the need for early detection and preventative measures and to reduce the incidence of Cancer through education, service and advocacy. This was achieved by a group of citizens ranging from healthcare professionals to patients to educators to social activists, all of whom had just one major motivator; to improve the lives of their fellow countrymen. The first executive committee comprised Sir Henry Pierre, Mr Emile Elias, Mr Harold Fasier, Mrs Jeanette Laird, Dr David Quamina, Dr George Laquis (past Chairman), Dr Carol Inalsingh, and Mrs Danielle Le Gendre. The current Chairman, Dr Asante Le Blanc and her team continues the visionary objectives identified on inception.
The Society was officially recognised as a charitable organisation by an Act of Parliament in the 1970s and was incorporated as a company in 1985. Today, they are one of the most prominent and respected cancer-focused organisations in the Caribbean, influencing not just individual behaviours but public health policies, by interacting with relevant governmental and private sector bodies at the highest levels. Over time, the Society has extended its influence to other Eastern Caribbean islands, and offer support to our neighbours in their struggle against this disease.
Bubbles for Life
In the past, the TTCS held an annual Walk for Life around the Queen’s Park Savannah. While this event was more of a solidarity walk for those who may have passed from cancer, it was revamped in 2018 to Bubbles for Life, an event more celebratory of Life and Survivorship. Bubbles for Life, Fun Run/Walk has since been held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy for the last two years with over 4,000 participants each year. The added fun element of four Bubble Stations were introduced along the course where participants could run, walk, dance, hop, jump, skip, et cetera through the bubbles.
COVID-19 and the Revamped VIRTUAL Event
With the COVID-19 pandemic public health recommendations, significant changes had to be made to the structure and it was revamped to a Virtual. The concept this year:
participation simply involves taking a picture of yourself wearing your commemorative 2020 Bubbles For Life t-shirt on Event Day, NOVEMBER 21st, doing any fitness activity and posting it to the social media pages between 2pm to 6pm with hashtags #againstallcancers and #bubblesforlife2020 for a chance to claim a token.
What are the TTCS social media platforms?
Facebook: @TrinidadandTobagoCancerSociety
Instagram: @trinidadandtobagocancer
“Participants are encouraged to create their own at-home bubbles and share short videos to the social media platforms. These short videos of a maximum 20-second length are welcomed” said an official of Bubbles for Life. Online registration is ongoing. Simply visit cancertt.com and complete the registration forms which should then be emailed to [email protected]
For the past 50 years, the TTCS has been the national voice against cancer in Trinidad and Tobago. As we continue our journey into the next 50 we remain committed to the vision of our founders of this organisation to continue to stand up against cancer through education and by promoting prevention through screening.
This year we are standing AGAINST ALL CANCERS and encourage everyone to join in virtually to Bubbles for Life 2020!
