Over 1,000 walkers and runners blocked West Bay Street starting from the Goodman’s Bay Corporate Center at 6:30am Saturday, October 6, stopping traffic as they found their places at the “Walk for the Cure” starting line. CIBC FirstCaribbean’s seventh annual “Walk for the Cure” boasted the biggest turnout to date, with last-minute participants trickling in as early as 5:30am for on-site registration.

Fitness trainer Dekel Nesbitt, better known as “Bowflex Barbie,” led this year’s pre-dawn warm-up, set to the lively beat of 100% Bahamian music provided by local Bahamian radio station “Bahamian or Nuttin 92.5 FM.”

With a declarative “Walk for the Cure” shout, participants set off down the route winding from the Goodman’s Bay Corporate Center to Sandals – or the Melia for those taking the shorter route – and back.

A warm, one-of-a-kind breakfast greeted hungry walkers and runners upon their return, courtesy of POW! (Pancakes, Omelettes, and Waffles) food truck. The food truck served up pink strawberry waffles, offered specially for the occasion, along with their normal menu including an array of pancake, waffle, chicken, and seafood options, to eager customers. 

A post-walk health and wellness fair gave event-goers the chance to try new products, learn of services, and win raffle prizes presented by the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board, Hilton, Dolphin Encounters, and POW!

Attendees took a break from milling around various vendors to gather in a ceremonious circle as CIBC FirstCaribbean Business Support Manager Sherwin Hilton prayed over cancer survivors who were present, and Managing Director Marie Rodland-Allen shared words of solidarity.

“Cancer is not just one person’s fight. It’s all of our fights. Every single person here today either has been affected by cancer or knows someone who’s been affected by it. We couldn’t be happier for the turnout because it shows that we’re all in this together.”

Andrea Sweeting, President of the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, echoed this sentiment. “As a yearly walker I can say the turnout this year is phenomenal. We want our women and men to know that no matter what happens, there is hope, because we have people who are willing to help, as we see here today.”

CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Trevor Torzsas, Executive Co-Chair of Walk for the Cure and Managing Director of Cards & Customer Relationship Strategy, said, “Every year we’re proud of the results we see from the Walk for the Cure, and this year is by far the best yet. We’re delighted to bring the community of The Bahamas together to support cancer awareness and treatment, and to know that together we can walk closer towards a cure.”

Along with a record turnout, this year’s “Walk for the Cure” campaign also resulted in a record fundraising total of more than $90,000, and counting. Fundraising continues until the end of October and CIBC FirstCaribbean customers and non-customers alike are encouraged to visit any branch to make a donation. All proceeds will be donated to various cancer support groups throughout the country.

“Walk for the Cure” is one of the Caribbean’s largest cancer fundraising and educational initiatives, attracting thousands of walkers from The Bahamas as well as the 16 other territories CIBC FirstCaribbean operates in. The event has raised over $1.75 million in sponsorship and donations over the past six years, with $450,000 raised in 2017.

The seventh annual “Walk for the Cure” (Bahamas) was sponsored by: Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board, Bahamas Power and Light (BPL), BTC, Colina, Doctor’s Hospital, Dolphin Encounters, Graham Thompson, Hilton Hotel, KFC, Lennox Paton, Quality Home Center, The Pointe, Atlantic Medical, Avis, BAF, Baha Mar, Bahamas Waste, Bethel Group of Companies, Bill Simmons Construction, Caribbean Bottling Company, Commonwealth Brewery Limited, Family Medical Centre, Furniture Plus, Geeks for Less, Going Places, Itel BPO, LOM Offshore, Lyford Cay Club, McKinney Bancroft and Hughes, Milo Butler Distributors, New Oriental Cleaners, POW!, Rubis, Sapodilla, Trash It, Tripoint Communications, Wemco Security and Woslee Construction.