Accounting firm donates to Cancer Society
This year the accounting firm of Pannel Kerr Forster is celebrating it’s golden anniversary and as a part of the festivities they have given something back to the community. The firm sponsored a walk-a-thon from Ladyville to Belize City on April twenty-fifth, which brought in over eleven thousand dollars. This money was handed over to the Belize Cancer Society at their offices today. According to manager Doug Erskine, it was the wish of a staff member, that the funds be donated to the society.
Douglas Erskine, Manager, Pannel Kerr Forster
“I think every one of us has been touched by cancer at some time in our lives, right. I know, I lost a good friend to cancer last year. And so that was the unanimous choice of the group that we do this. And in a very short time we organized a sponsored walk.”
Laura Longsworth, President, Belize Cancer Society
“When the Cancer Society was founded in 1996, Mrs. Soberanis through her fund raising efforts was able to raise money and assisted over twelve clients and that amounted to over twelve thousand dollars. And that is in the first year. That was a lot of effort on her part because it is not easy to raise money especially for a young society like Belize Cancer Society. So we have to a lot of work to do. We have to meet the needs of our clients.
An area that is extremely disturbing is the management of pain. Our clients with pain, our patients with pain, they are not accessing the type of medication that would make them comfortable so we have a lot of work to do.
We are very pleased to say that the money that Pannel Kerr Forster raised for the Cancer Society has been earmarked specifically to meet the needs of those clients that need treatment, chemotherapy, radio therapy and those are treatment that cannot be had in Belize. So our clients go to Merida. That’s the place they use mostly. It is more affordable: food and accommodations are inexpensive. So the small assistance that we give them goes a long way in not only paying for their treatment but helping them be there. If not, they would not be able to go.”
Families who are affected by cancer and need financial help are encouraged to visit the Belize Cancer Society on the third floor of the Belize Commercial Centre.
