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Payless ShoeSource raises awareness of breast cancer

Published:Thursday | October 15, 2015 | 12:00 AM
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One of the Breast Cancer Awareness bracelets customers can purchase at the Payless ShoeSource outlets in Jamaica.
Monique ‘Mahima’ Geourzong embraces her breast after surgery. Her photo was taken in 2007 in Canada for an article in the Toronto Sun and now this picture is hung in an art gallery in Canada to inspire other women who are faced with the disease. Geourzong is now deceased.
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For the rest of October, Payless ShoeSource is encouraging Jamaicans to join the fight against breast cancer by purchasing a 2015 Payless Breast Cancer Awareness bracelet in support of local charity, The Mahima Foundation.

Over the last seven years, Payless ShoeSource has supported breast cancer awareness programmes in their host countries. These signature accessories are created each year for the campaign and feature the iconic pink ribbon. Bracelets will be on sale in all Payless stores in Jamaica throughout October, and for each bracelet purchased, the equivalent of US$1 will be donated to The Mahima Foundation.

"Seven years ago, Payless ShoeSource began supporting breast cancer awareness programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean," said Nekeisha Critchlow, Jamaica country manager, Payless ShoeSource. "And today it means so much to us to know that in this small way we are able to contribute to organisations dedicated to helping others in the fight against breast cancer. We chose The Mahima Foundation, because we share their objectives of raising cancer awareness and promoting a wellness lifestyle and early detection of cancer."

The Mahima Foundation began in 2012, after the passing of Monique 'Mahima' Geourzoung, to support her vision to raise funds for The Hope Institute, Jamaica's only palliative care centre and specialist oncology hospital. Geourzoung, before her passing, wrote about her experience with cancer.

"It has brought me (literally) to my knees with pain and made me wish to give up my life, but also to know that even the worst of pain doesn't last forever, and neither does life, so there's no need to rush, just to experience," she wrote. The Mahima Foundation is chaired by her mother, Primrose Geourzoung.

 

honoured

 

"We are grateful and honoured to be considered by Payless. In doing work with The Hope Institute we ask what their needs are in order to make the place more comfortable, for staff, patients and family, and we do what we can to achieve this," she said. "

Critchlow encouraged Jamaicans to embrace the cause and raise awareness by supporting the campaign. In Jamaica, the Payless chain has 13 stores and has operated in the country since February 2011.