Cancer survivors, corporate and individual supporters recently painted the country pink and purple as they ran, jogged and walked for the cure.

Bringing together hundreds of participants for a time of fitness and fellowship, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s flagship fundraiser, Walk for the Cure (WFTC), was held in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera.

The nationwide event kicked off at sunrise with warm-up activities and concluded with a mini health fair, bringing together supporters of various ages.

CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Managing Director, Dr. Jacqui Bend, thanked sponsors, participants and volunteers for their part in making the event a success.

“During Walk for the Cure, we celebrate the survivors among us, remember those who have fought a good battle and passed on, and recognize the reason for WFTC- to raise funds for the awareness, education, care and support of those fighting the deadly disease called cancer.”

The funds raised from WFTC are primarily used to assist with the purchase and maintenance of equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. They are also used to provide assistance, care and counselling to patients and their families as well as to raise awareness, and stress the importance of early detection, through education campaigns across the region.

Gandize Reckley, with the goal of claiming the “best dressed” title for the third year in a row, decided to participate in New Providence’s WFTC again in recognition of being a 16-year breast cancer survivor.

She was joined by 59-year-old Z. Eve Maycock Dorssett, a member of Just Run Bahamas and Early Birds Run Club, who has participated in WFTC since its inception, and Ranay Roberts, an employee of WFTC bronze sponsor, Oriental Cleaners, who participated for the first time this year with her 7-year-old daughter, Janay Roberts, and plans to come out again in 2024.

The Abaco WFTC event had a crowd spanning all age groups with a record number of young participants. Numerous Grand Bahama participants came dressed in creative outfits including wigs and feather boas, as Eleuthera eagerly launched its walk from the recently relocated branch at Charlow’s Plaza in Governor’s Harbour.

Last year’s walk generated $51,000 for cancer care organizations across The Bahamas including the Cancer Society of Abaco, Cancer Society of Eleuthera and Cancer Society of Grand Bahama. Since the walk’s inception in 2011, CIBC FirstCaribbean has raised over 3.5 million dollars across the region for the fight against cancer.

Cancer survivors, corporate and individual supporters recently painted the country pink and purple as they ran, jogged and walked for the cure. Bringing together hundreds of participants for a time of fitness and fellowship, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s flagship fundraiser, Walk for the Cure (WFTC), was held in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera. The nationwide event kicked off at sunrise with warm-up activities and concluded with a mini health fair, bringing together supporters of various ages. CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Managing Director, Dr. Jacqui Bend, thanked sponsors, participants and volunteers for their part in making the event a success. “During Walk for the Cure, we celebrate the survivors among us, remember those who have fought a good battle and passed on, and recognize the reason for WFTC- to raise funds for the awareness, education, care and support of those fighting the deadly disease called cancer.” The funds raised from WFTC are primarily used to assist with the purchase and maintenance of equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. They are also used to provide assistance, care and counselling to patients and their families as well as to raise awareness, and stress the importance of early detection, through education campaigns across the region. Gandize Reckley, with the goal of claiming the “best dressed” title for the third year in a row, decided to participate in New Providence’s WFTC again in recognition of being a 16-year breast cancer survivor. She was joined by 59-year-old Z. Eve Maycock Dorssett, a member of Just Run Bahamas and Early Birds Run Club, who has participated in WFTC since its inception, and Ranay Roberts, an employee of WFTC bronze sponsor, Oriental Cleaners, who participated for the first time this year with her 7-year-old daughter, Janay Roberts, and plans to come out again in 2024. The Abaco WFTC event had a crowd spanning all age groups with a record number of young participants. Numerous Grand Bahama participants came dressed in creative outfits including wigs and feather boas, as Eleuthera eagerly launched its walk from the recently relocated branch at Charlow’s Plaza in Governor’s Harbour. Last year’s walk generated $51,000 for cancer care organizations across The Bahamas including the Cancer Society of Abaco, Cancer Society of Eleuthera and Cancer Society of Grand Bahama. Since the walk’s inception in 2011, CIBC FirstCaribbean has raised over 3.5 million dollars across the region for the fight against cancer.

Bahamian Jacobi Bain and his men's doubles partner Nereo Suarez, of Argentina, defeated their teammates Julius Hell, of Germany, and American VanDer Woody, 7-6(5) and 7-5, Sunday afternoon in the men's doubles final of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Gulf Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Regional Championships at the Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) Tennis Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

The victory automatically qualifies Bain and Suarez for the ITA Cup, from October 12-16, at the Rome Tennis Center in Rome, Georgia.

Bain and Suarez rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the tiebreak. It's the second doubles title in 16 days for Bain and Suarez, who defeated Morgan State's top-seeded Mikeal Carpenter and Niles Rachal, both of the United States, in the A-bracket final September 16 at the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) National Championships in Atlanta, Georgia.

Last year, Bain and Suarez were the top seeded team in the regionals but lost in the final.

"We are happy that this time around they came out on top," said a Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) spokesperson through a press release. "We wish him success at the ITA Cup next week."

Bain, a sophomore, also recently made the first team at XULA. He finished with a 20-9 win/loss record in singles last season and was 24-6 in doubles. He was at number 14 in singles and, with Suarez, number two in doubles, in the final NAIA national rankings. Bain moved from playing number four in singles in 2022 to the number one spot for the school this year, and helped the XULA Gold Rush achieve more success, including nine team victories against ranked opponents.

Bain was second team All-Louisiana and freshman of the year for the Gold Rush last year.

The BLTA congratulates Bain on capturing the men's doubles regional title with his partner and for the first team honors.

Coming off a two-hit game in the first game of the Minor League Baseball (MiLB) Double A Southern League Championship series against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Bahamian minor league player Bertram 'BJ' Murray finished with a home run and four runs batted in (RBIs), leading his team, the Tennessee Smokies, to a 10-3 victory, on Tuesday. The Smokies swept the championship series two games to none.

It was the Smokies, a Chicago Cubs' affiliate, first outright Southern League title in 45 years. They lost to the Wahoos last season.

Playing on the road at the Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, Florida, the third baseman finished the game 1-for-4 with a three-run home run. His only hit of the game came in the top of the third inning with the game tied 1-1. With the count at 2-2, and first and second occupied with Matt Shaw and Andy Weber respectively, the Bahamian sent the ball to the right side of the field and over the fence. That hit put the Smokies up 4-1.

Murray got his fourth RBI of the night three innings later on a sacrifice fly to right field. He brought home Weber. The Smokies went up 7-1 at that point. They scored four runs in that inning and took a 9-1 lead. The Wahoos scored one run in the bottom of the sixth inning. It was not nearly enough as the Smokies completed their revenge.

The winning pitcher was the Smokies' Cade Horton while the losing pitcher was Luis Palacios.

The Smokies won the first game 8-4 on Sunday.

Murray was sensational for the Smokies in the postseason, turning in a batting average of .357. He went 5-for-14 at the plate in four games. He finished with one home run and seven RBIS to go with four runs scored. His on-base percentage (OBP) was .412 and his slugging percentage (SLG) was .643 for an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 1.055.

The Bahamian was featured in 124 games this season and came away with a batting average of .263. It was his first season in Double A and he was able to come away with 74 RBIs and 16 home runs. Murray was able to score 71 runs and had an OBP of .382, and SLG of .462 for an OPS of .844.

The 23-year-old just completed his second full year in the minors and has shown that he is someone to keep an eye on. He is the Cubs' number 18 prospect.

The Bahamas' senior men's national soccer team has its full squad in town and they are ready to kick off its 2023-2024 Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League campaign against Puerto Rico at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Saturday.

Assistant Coach for The Bahamas Kevin Davies said that the team has been preparing for months and winding down training sessions.

"We are now putting the final touches on the team, getting ready for our first match on Saturday. There is not one particular thing we need to tighten up on, offensively and defensively. We need to work on free kicks among other things," Davies said.

The two teams faced each other back in June 2021 with Puerto Rico getting the best of The Bahamas, 7-0. The Bahamas has an opportunity to avenge that loss.

"A lot of guys who are playing Puerto Rico on Saturday did not play in that match," Davies said. "It has been a growing process. The guys have been putting in work and I have seen the growth in everybody. I don't see a fall-off. There is a bitter taste and when someone hit you, you do not want them to hit you again. I think that it will be a better showing this time."

This is the first of a series of six games that The Bahamas will play in League B Group D, featuring Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana. It is a tough group, but Davies said that it helps to start with a win.

"It is always important to start off any tournament fast. A good showing this week will put us in a good position moving forward – not to say you start off good means you can relax, but if you start off good it will put you in a better position moving forward. It takes the pressure off you to have to perform at a level that may not be attainable," Davies said.

Lesly St. Fleur has been the face of Bahamas football for quite some time and he is once again thrust into the role of the team's veterans.

"The team has been putting in the work and getting ready for the game on Saturday," St. Fleur said. "The mixture of the young players and some veterans becomes very easy for us as the young players will be the team in the near future. It is good playing with them and a challenge to be around them. They give you a hard time in practice and that is good."

St. Fleur did not play against Puerto Rico in 2021. He said that it will be a different game this time around as they look to put up a fight and come out victorious.

Phieron Wilson, who has played for junior national teams, made his debut for the senior men's national team earlier this year and he is looking forward to the match tomorrow.

"It is going to be a good experience," Wilson said. "The team is strong, young and healthy. We are looking forward to having a fantastic time and to come away with the victory. ... Being back is refreshing. It has been good getting back into soccer shape and the right mindset. It has been good building with guys who I saw grow up and playing with the men's team. I feel good about our chances, and we will have something to show come Saturday."

The defender is looking forward to hearing the Bahamian fans and music on Saturday. He is encouraging Bahamians and Bahamian residents to come and support them as they get their 2023-2024 Nations League action underway.

Apart from St. Fleur and Wilson, the remaining members of the team are Antonio Beckford, William Gardiner, Miguel Thompson, Cameron Pratt, Vance Wheaton, Christopher Rahming, Ricardo McPhee, William Evans, Brandon Adderley, Junior Kelly, Alexiou Cartwright, Nathan Neymour, Nathan Wells, Quinton Carey, Jaxon Bethel, Walter Sawyer, Michael Massey, William Bayles, Wood Julmis, Rashaan Bain and Nahum Johnson.

The tickets for the game are $10 for children, $20 for adults and $35 for VIP. They can be purchased online at www.bahamasfa.net or at the National Sports Authority box office at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium.