SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Throughout October, The Windward Islands Bank (WIB) marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its Pink Friday’s initiative. The month’s activities included a special awareness session for female employees, reinforcing a simple but important message: early detection matters, and no one should face a cancer diagnosis alone.
The session featured breast cancer survivor and advocate Yolanda Jackson-Martina, who spoke openly about her personal journey. She encouraged women to pay attention to changes in their bodies, keep up with regular checkups, and seek medical advice whenever something does not feel right.
Representatives of the Positive Foundation and the Elektralyets Foundation also joined the session. They shared information about the support available to individuals and families navigating a cancer diagnosis and highlighted the work both organizations continue to carry out within the St. Maarten community.
“Breast cancer reaches more of our lives than many of us realize. It touches our families, our friends, our colleagues, and our wider community,” said Emilia Connor-Thomas, General Manager Customer Experience at WIB. “Hearing Yolanda share her experience was a powerful reminder to take our health seriously and encourage the women around us to do the same. We are grateful to the Positive Foundation and the Elektralyets Foundation for the care and commitment they bring to those affected by cancer and for keeping awareness strong across our island.”
To support their work, WIB presented a joint donation of XCG 5,000 to the Positive Foundation and the Elektralyets Foundation. The contribution will support their awareness initiatives, educational programs, and support services.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month draws to a close, WIB encourages women across St. Maarten to take proactive steps toward their health by making use of available screening opportunities. These include the Free Breast Screening and Open House hosted by St. Maarten Medical Center and its partners on Saturday, October 31, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Supporting the health and well-being of the community is part of WIB’s commitment to being Your Partner in Progress, a promise the bank has upheld throughout more than six decades of service to St. Maarten.
