Healthy Living: Why You Should Come Out to Cancer Walk 2018!
The annual Belize Cancer Society awareness walk takes place this Saturday. It’s one of the largest activities executed by the N.G.O. Although thousands are expected to participated, if you’re still on the fence, then tonight’s healthy living shares a few more reasons you should lace up those sneakers and join in the event.
Marleni Cuellar, Reporting
On Saturday the Phillip Goldson Highway will be flooded with Belizeans of all ages from all walks of life walking and running as they participate in the annual Cancer Awareness Walk – The symbolic close of cancer awareness month. Every year, the even t attracts more participants. However, if you’re still on the fence about joining in this year, here are three of the reasons the Belize Cancer Society hopes you’ll come out.
Laura Longsworth
Laura Longsworth, President, Belize Cancer Society
“The entire process of the cancer walk and the participation of the community sends a great signal.”
President of the Belize Cancer Society, Laura Longsworth, highlights the primary reason of awareness and solidarity.
Laura Longsworth
“It’s symbolic. It’s everybody coming together to say to tell the world that we understand why we are walking. We are walking for health. We are walking for those persons we have witnessed battling with cancer. We are walking for those persons who we know have died and most have known someone who’s been affected. A friend, a family member somebody who has been affected by cancer but the image walking is one of hope. 01.46 It is even a signal to our authorities that we are concerned that we want services to make sure we remain healthy. Cancer survivors really suffer from post traumatic stress disorder they and their families, they live in that fear of dying or recurrence of their cancers and so when we have masses of our people, community members, ordinary people walking and they look they must smile of all those people coming down that highway.”
The second reason is that it’s one way to get in the much recommended physical activity we all need.
Laura Longsworth
“Sometimes people get confused but cancer is one of those group of disease called non communicable diseases. So when we speak at the Belize cancer society we speak from a NCD or non communicable disease perspective. Cancer has a lot of commonalities with other diseases. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, if you have too much fat in your system it predisposes not only to hypertension and diabetes but also to certain types of cancers. So when we speak we speak health then we try to explain to the public that the message is one of prevention. Taking control of your own health.”
Thirdly, it is the primary fundraising activity for the N.G.O.
Laura Longsworth
“Even though we say come out it doesn’t matter what you wear. Please come and join the walk. For those of the community who really understand the contributions and the value of what we do. We ask you please to purchase our t-shirts because it is our main fundraiser for the year. We depend on the funds for all the work that we do. We do a lot of outreach. We go into inner city communities, we do counseling, we arrange for free pap smear for marginalized populations. Quietly nobody knows but it happens, we travel to Belize River Valley we go to rural Toledo and these things take finance.”
Buses depart the cancer society’s office starting at three-thirty a.m. on Saturday and the walk departs Ladyville at five a.m.
Laura Longsworth
“Come out! All of uno come out! We wah have music. Karen Rosito will be out there getting everybody warmed up but really and truly come out and show your solidarity with the entire community and come out and support your Belize cancer society.”
