Cancer Walk 2023

The annual cancer walk in Belize City took place over the weekend. Hundreds of persons threw on their sneakers and headed to the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. For a second consecutive year, the walk did not begin in Ladyville and instead saw participants made their way through the north and south sides of Belize City and return to the sporting complex. This year, it was a whopping ten miles of road. Some walked, some rode and others ran – all to create awareness on cancer. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

For a second year, the Belize Cancer Society held its Cancer Walk in Belize City began and ended at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. This time, however, the route was expanded to include the Philip Goldson Highway, over the Chetumal Street Bridge and then onto Faber’s Road Extension before making its way onto Central American Boulevard, along Yarborough Road, Regent Street, Swing Bridge, Marine Parade and then back to Princess Margaret Drive.

Anthony Mahler

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Belize now and we have to show support for those people who are in the fight like my mother, my wife and other people that I know.”

Leslie Rogers

Leslie Rogers, Belize City Resident

“I have to come out because I lost my sister about seven months ago and I am supporting that with everything, but we have to keep going on. Pat Bennett was one of the most lovely persons in softball in this world. So I have to support. I have to do it half way because going sixty-six directly so we have to make sure I got mi B plan.”

Duane Moody

“So you di walk or the ride?”

Leslie Rogers

“I di walk, the ride and dance pan the street.”

Duane Moody

Duane Moody

“It’s a gruelling walk that is taken every year to bring awareness to the deadly disease of cancer. Many of the participants for cancer walk 2023 either knows someone who is battling cancer or has survived or even has lost the fight to this deadly disease.”

Michelle Sampson

Michelle Sampson, Participant, Cancer Walk 2023

“It’s something that I always do. It is personal for me because of a co-worker that had died from cancer. So I do this for her every year.”

Lily Aldana

Lily Aldana, Participant, Cancer Walk 2023

“It is my first time actually participating it in so I am a bit pumped up. To be honest, it was hard in the beginning, but now I feel pumped. Cancer is a very serious thing. It has taken a lot of lives. I haven’t had that experience, but I am sure it isn’t something that we can ever forget. A lost one, a loved one that’s been with you for so long, you can’t forget them. So I am taking the initiative to walk here on all the cancer survivors as well.”

It was a ten-mile walk and majority made it through to the end, including cancer survivor Kim Simplis-Barrow. Simplis-Barrow was accompanied by a friend and says that the turnout is encouraging, to say the least.

Kim Simplis-Barrow

Kim Simplis-Barrow, Cancer Survivor

“It is encouraging, it is powerful, it is wonderful to see so many people come out and do the walk. It is a reminder that we still have a long way to go in empowering our women to get their medical checks and in getting the medical care that we so badly need here in Belize.”

Ashley Lightburn

Ashley Lightburn, Miss Universe Belize

“I am here because my mom has breast cancer so it is something that we need to bring awareness to and I think that things like this really help to do that. This is in my capacity as Miss Belize. I am not sashed this morning because obviously I di sweat. But as Miss Belize I want to help all the associations that I could help. I was at the lupus walk last weekend so now I am at cancer walk this weekend.”

Duane Moody

“You’re gonna make it all the way to the end?”

Ashley Lightburn

“I hope so.”

Participating in the annual fundraiser helps to send a strong message to everyone.

Ashley Lightburn

“I think everybody should come out, support all the walks that we have, buy the shirts, bring awareness to it because the more we raise funds, the better we are able to help our Belizean people.”

Kim Simplis-Barrow

“Stay strong, stay positive, get the care that you need and know that so many of us have survived and we just have to keep on fighting until the end.”

Duane Moody for News Five.