JN Bank launches Power of Pink campaign in support of breast cancer fight

In support of the ongoing fight against breast cancer, JN Bank has launched a month-long campaign, Power of Pink, which started on Monday, October 1.

Leesa Kow, deputy managing director, JN Bank, said the initiative would celebrate and empower the 'women warriors' across Jamaica who are battling this dreadful disease and honour those that have lost in the battle.

Data from the Jamaica Cancer Society reveals that one in every 21 women in Jamaica will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Jamaica among women above the age of 25 years. It accounts for 29.4 per cent of all cancers in Jamaica, with an incidence rate of 43.1 per 100,000 in women and 0.6 in men.

"It is those alarming figures that have called us to action," Kow said. "This knowledge, along with JN Bank's commitment to positively impacting the lives of Jamaicans, has been the impetus for the decision to vary the way we observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 2018."

She added: "As a good corporate citizen, and in light of the alarming statistics, we recognised that we needed to do more, especially when one considers the tremendous national socio-economic impact that breast cancer has on our society."

Research shows that the high cost of treating the disease has led to bankruptcy for many Jamaican families. The indirect effect on productivity for those directly affected and also for those caring for these warriors has also been significant. Breast cancer, therefore, poses a major public-health challenge and a threat to national economic and social development.

Kow said that JN Bank was committed to supporting the research that would one day lead to a cure for this disease that has impacted so many families.

Among the activities that the JN Bank has planned for the month of October is a 'Solidarity Day' on Friday, October 19, on which day, Jamaicans across the country are invited to unite in celebration of the lives of those who we have lost in the battle with breast cancer.

"On that day, we will offer free health checks and advice about cancer at our chief office in Half-Way Tree. We will also be offering, free of charge, a limited-edition Power of Pink debit card at all our branches across the country. The debit cards will be available for distribution while stocks last," Kow said.

She noted that at 6 p.m., the bank will also host a special candlelighting ceremony in the car park at the JN Bank chief office in Half-Way Tree.

Celebrating warriors

"We will celebrate the lives of the warriors who are no longer with us. And we invite both warriors and the loved ones of warriors to join us and light a candle for either themselves or for someone they have lost," said Kow.

Proceeds from the campaign will support the work of the Jamaica Cancer Society and Jamaica Reach to Recovery.

Persons can also make donations to Jamaica Reach to Recovery via the ISupportJamaica crowdfunding platform. Contributing to any initiative via the platform is simple and secure. Interested persons can donate by visiting www.isupportjamaica.com, clicking on the project, and then clicking the 'Fund Project' button.

In addition, donations can be made via credit card through JN Live e-banking by visiting any JN Branch or MoneyShop and through inter-bank transfers.