Kim Simplis Barrow is New Cancer Society President

After many years serving as the head of the Belize Cancer Society, Laura Tucker-Longsworth stepped down from the role and has been succeeded by former Special-Envoy Kim Simplis-Barrow. The organization announced on Wednesday the newly-appointed members of the board. News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the Belize Cancer Society for more information.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The Belize Cancer Society has big hopes for the future. On Wednesday, a new board was announced with Kim Simplis Barrow serving as the newly elected president. Barrow spoke to News Five, giving us an update on the organisation’s way forward. 

 

Kim Simplis-Barrow, President, Belize Cancer Society

“Our major objectiveat this point is to really work on our strategic plan for the next five years. The current strategic plan is outdated. A part from that, we want to continue our outreach program. We want to continue our advocacy role. To ensure that people are aware of what they can do for healthy living and prevention of cancer and the services that are offered by the Belize Cancer Society. So there’s a lot to do. There’s a lot that has been done. But there’s still so much that we need to do. We have the cancer walk that’s coming up. We’re looking at the end of May and so huge preparation for that has already started. So a number we will see, I believe, a number of things happening throughout the year.”

 

Former President Laura Tucker-Longsworth shared her sentiments about the newly elected board and their mission for the Belize Cancer Society.

 

 

 

 

 

Laura Tucker-Longsworth, Former President, Belize Cancer Society

“I’m excited about the new boards. Seriously, we’re very happy that we put together a really dynamic slate of men and women with different expertise, as you know. The Belize Cancer Society went through a really bad time, like other organizations, during the COVID pandemic, and they were literally operated without funds, but we stayed, our doors remained opened, and so we have been making that recovery over the past two years. And so now we’re here ready and poised to really move the organization to another level. The board members and new board members are highly skilled. They are cancer survivors, many of them. I think we have over six individuals on the new board that are cancer survivors. So they understand the journey and that’s will allow great advocacy For those in the community and a greater understanding of how important it is to conduct public awareness campaigns and so on.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.