Atlantic Medical Donates Over $43,000 to Cancer Society & Diabetic Association

Tue, Aug 12th 2014, 04:38 PM

Caring Bahamians, in support of a community initiative sponsored by the country’s top health insurer, walked the walk and it paid off big time.

Three months after hundreds of participants hit the streets for the “Sweet 16” Fun Walk/Run sponsored and organized by Atlantic Medical Insurance (AMI), the Bahamas’s leading health insurer presented the Cancer Society of The Bahamas and the Bahamas Diabetic Association (BDA) with over $43,000, split between these organizations, whose work has contributed much to raising awareness of two challenging and increasingly widespread diseases.

AMI’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Lynda Gibson indicated that the focus of the Cancer Society and BDA coincides with Atlantic Medical’s commitment to the fight against two ailments that affect so many people in The Bahamas. Atlantic has been engaged in championing the fight against these and other Bahamian health challenges for many years.

Emphasizing the value of community-wide participation and partnership, Mrs. Gibson said, “The AMI Fun Walk is one of the largest and we have built it on a public partnership, which gives the community an opportunity to help raise funds. Although AMI’s commitment is to host the event, it allows for families to come out and have fun together while raising funds for a worthy cause.”

Noting the value of the funds donated by AMI over the years, Cancer Society President, Laverne Wildgoose said that the company’ s latest contribution would go towards the Cancer Care Centre, which provides a comfortable environment for cancer patients who need somewhere to stay, while in the capital receiving treatment. She said that the centre caters primarily for Family Island patients, but most recently, the facility has extended its aid to others, including patients from the Caribbean who have come to Nassau for treatment.

The scope of the Society’s work encompasses much more than the Centre.

“The Cancer Society has also been doing a lot of educational awareness programmes in the Family Islands, offering free screening and workshops. Therefore, the funds from this Atlantic Medical walk go a long way in providing help with the various programmes,” Ms Wildgoose said.

President of the Bahamas Diabetic Association (BDA), Eugene Thurston said that his charity is very grateful to AMI for the donations it has provided over the last eight years.

“Atlantic Medical Insurance is our most prestigious corporate partner who has stood by even during the turn of the economy. Atlantic Medical Insurance has kept its commitment to help through its most generous donation from the annual fun walks,” said Mr. Thurston.

The BDA president said this year’s donation will be used for ongoing diabetes education and the Association’s “Footsteps” Campaign, which utilizes a Canadian foot-testing process to determine whether an amputation is necessary as therapy for the patients tested. He said that health officials have found that many people are undergoing amputations because they are not controlling their diabetes. BDA will partner with College of The Bahamas (COB) nursing students to administer the test.

Lynda Gibson said further that Atlantic Medical brought BDA into the company’s community outreach programme once the company became aware of the increasing numbers of people being diagnosed with diabetes. Consequently, AMI committed to bringing increased awareness to a preventable disease and the Bahamas Diabetic Association. She noted that healthy lifestyles, including regular exercise, can do much to reduce the incidence of cancer and diabetes.


“Each year, Atlantic Medical strives to have a Fun Walk that brings together people for the purpose of health, togetherness and fun and it is in that vein Atlantic Medical continues to create an environment at the walk for everyone. With the involvement of the many people in the community, AMI has been successful in raising funds that are all donated to these most worthy charities. This year, over $43,000 was raised which says a lot,” said Mrs. Gibson, indicating the company’s intention to continue its championing of this much-needed outreach.

Executive Vice-President and General Manager of Atlantic Medical, Lynda Gibson; Bahamas Diabetic Association (BDA) President, Eugene A. Thurston and Atlantic Medical Business Development Manager, Darren Bastian.

Executive Vice-President and General Manager of Atlantic Medical, Lynda Gibson; President of the Cancer Society of The Bahamas, Laverne Wildgoose and Atlantic Medical Business Development Manager, Darren Bastian.

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