Cancer walk inspires 1000 to come out

There were as many as a thousand people along the Northern Highway on Saturday morning. It wasn’t a massive traffic jam, but a walk organized by an N.G.O. The Belize Cancer Society stages the yearly event to promote awareness of the silent killer that has taken many productive members of society. The walk started at five a.m. in front of Price Barracks in Ladyville and organizers say that 2009 has produced the best turnout for the event.

Deborah Alvarado, Secretary, Belize Cancer Society
“The Belize Cancer Society, what we do here is prevention of Cancer. You don’t wait till you have cancer to come to the cancer society. You can come to the Belize Cancer Society everyday at anytime between the hours of eight and five o’clock p.m. So we do breast exam, educational, prevention and anything like that.”

Jose Sanchez
“What was the purpose of Saturday’s walk?”

Deborah Alvarado
“To health, health awareness of cancer meaning that to keep fit, eat healthy. The symbolic of all that this is to help for women, men and kids.”

Jose Sanchez
“How many people did you have there on Saturday?”

Deborah Alvarado
“There were over a thousand people. It was the best year ever so it was fun. I want to thank those that support the cancer society and those that came out walking, in the wheel chairs; running walking and everything like that.”

Jose Sanchez
“So you had…?”

Deborah Alvarado
“Women, men, children, even in wheel chair. And to all those that support because we know that they support for the ones who have passed on; those women and men who have already passed on. And the one that came out, I really want to tell them congratulations with all those that showed up. And even those that did not show up but had the thought of showing up, we want to thank them too.”

Alvarado says that anyone who would like to find more about the disease can contact their office on Mercy Lane in Belize City during regular working hours.