Paint Belize Pink for Cancer

Paint Belize Pink….it’s the name of a new campaign by the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children. With the month of October observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Kim Simplis Barrow and her team are embarking on a national awareness campaign that is expected to place increased attention on the issue of breast cancer. A request is being made that households and, in particular, businesses, are being asked to put pink light bulbs and decorations outside their buildings as a show of solidarity with cancer patients. And today, at their Offices at the Whitfield Tower on Coney Drive, Simplis Barrow officially unveiled the pink ribbon adorned on the building as a testament of the mission.

Kim Simplis Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children

“The paint Belize Pink Campaign really is to encourage people to wear their pink ribbons, to wear their pink shirts, to wear anything pink; to light a candle for those who have lost the battle; to change their bulb to pink; to keep the hope alive. And really to encourage people to do their self-breast examinations that is so very important. To go and get their exams; to go and get tested…we encourage women and men because as you know men too can get breast cancer. And so we want to keep the fire burning for all our victims and we want to make sure that they are remembered in a very special way.”

Kim Simplis Barrow

Reporter

“How long will the campaign last?”

Kim Simplis Barrow

“The entire month of October is breast cancer awareness month. And I know that the cancer society countrywide will be doing different activities. What we did from our office really is encourage companies to place permanently the pink ribbon. Thankfully, we have gotten a lot of support from major companies. I know companies like Belize Telemedia; they will have their customer service representatives wearing pink t-shirts the entire month of October. There are other companies like the Central Bank who will be displaying the pink ribbon on the building. We are hoping to get the pink ribbon up at the National Assembly building. The Belize Tourism Board will also be displaying the pink ribbon. So it is a slow process, but it’s a welcomed process and that’s really good to know that companies, businesses, individuals are willing to participate in this project.”

Other businesses are encouraged to order their ribbons through the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children.