The CB Pirates, a 10-member cycling team, pedaled a combined total of 250 miles raising $3,000 during the ninth annual Ride for Hope (R4H) biking event held in New Providence. The ride is held annually to raise funds to aid the fight against cancer.
The Commonwealth Bank team, a green sponsor of the ride, headed to the starting line with the plan of biking 20 miles each as they were originally signed up for, but once at the location and with the excitement swirling, the Pirates added an additional five miles to their overall goal.
“The Bank is excited about having had the opportunity to participate as a corporate sponsor in the 2015 R4H charity event,” said Mrs. Anthea B. Cox, Vice President Human Resources & Training. “Over the years the Bank has made donations to the fight against cancer however, the R4H event gave our employees the opportunity to come together as a team and give back by soliciting donations and cycling for a worthy cause.”
Like so many of the participants riding in support and honour of a friend or family member who either survived or whose life was lost due to cancer, it was the same for a few members of the team.
“The R4H was a warm and exciting experience,” said Lavado Butler, Manager, Wulff Road branch. “Exciting because it was the first time participating with friends and coworkers who also enjoyed themselves and warm because of the opportunity to contribute to such a worthy cause especially having lost my mother to cancer. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
The memory of a grandfather and two granduncles who died from cancer and a cancer surviving co-worker gave one rider the strength to continue the ride.
“At about the 15 mile mark, I gave brief thought to quitting the ride,” shared Stephen Johnson, Manager, Town Centre Mall branch. “However I was motivated by the reason for Ride for Hope and continued on to achieve the goal.”
Giselle Bowe rode to honour her grandfather who is battling the disease.
The members of the team included Shacoeya Hanna, Deitra Delancy, Jude Hart, Stephen Johnson, Carrington Johnson, Kenneth Rolle, Giselle Bowe, Lavado Butler, Juliet Johnson and Latoya Jones.
“It was an enjoyable experience for the CB cyclists and they are all looking forward to the 2016 Valentine' Day R4H event,” said Mrs. Cox on the bank’s participation in next year’s event.
With branches in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco, and more than 6,000 shareholders, Commonwealth Bank is the largest publicly-held company in The Bahamas. The bank has approximately 550 employees and assets of more than $1.5 billion.
Photo L to R: Kenneth Rolle, Shacoeya Hanna, Juliet Johnson, Stephen Johnson, Deitra Delancy, Latoya Jones, Jude Hart, Lavado Butler, Carrington Johnson and Giselle Bowe.
