Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Joan Campbell (right) has the attention of (from left) Dr. Deanna Ashley, Marcia Campbell and Beryl Ashley. The women were attending the Jamaica Cancer Society's 'Prostate Cancer Benefit Dinner and Dance'.
THE JAMAICA Cancer Society hosted its third annual Prostate Cancer Dinner and Dance on Friday at the Hilton Kingston hotel.
If you're a male and of African descent, then you're more likely to get it. Caught too late, it will kill you. That's the beauty of the event, a social occasion yes, but one with a far more important purpose, to continue the fight against what is a deadly disease. When it was first held in 2004, it was in sync with the first celebration of Prostate Cancer Month.
"The whole idea is awareness. We have this (event) for the men because we always promote the activities for the women," says Marva Lee, administrative director of the Jamaica Cancer Society. While not as huge (yet), as the Relay For Life and other Cancer Society events, the benefit dinner is building momentum. From its beginnings at the Terra Nova Hotel that first year, the Hilton Kingston has hosted the last two outings.
Earl Jarrett, probably better known for his work with Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), than as chairman of the society, commented, "We are here to have some fun and raise some funds and build awareness of prostate cancer."
He lamented the fact that despite the high risk of getting the disease, men were the smallest group of Jamaicans to come to the Cancer Society for check-ups and possible treatment.
Fitting that for such an event, a survivor of this fearsome illness should be guest speaker. Dr. George Phillips fit the bill in that aspect perfectly.
The evening's entertainment was provided by the always superb 50/50 Band. They delighted the audience during dinner with selections including Somewhere Out There and Putting Up Resistance.
They then cranked up the tempo once it was time for dancing as guests forsook the tables and headed for the dance floor.
