including Minister of Education, Mrs. Alcalá-Walle

Willemstad, Curacao, November 1, 2017 – A crowd of very enthusiastic walkers cheerfully covered the six kilometers of the CIBC FirstCaribbean Walk for the Cure recently. Among those that united in this noble cause and walked the streets of Willemstad was the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Mrs. Marilyn Alcalá-Walle. The walk, now in its sixth year, covered the traditional route through Punda starting in the parking lot of CIBC FirstCaribbean De Ruyterkade # 61 and finishing at the same spot. Stichting Princes Wilhelmina Fonds surprised CIBC FirstCaribbean this year with a gift as a token of appreciation for all those years of support to the foundation, one the main beneficiaries of the annual charitable event. The CIBC FirstCaribbean Walk for the Cure, is held in the 17 territories where the bank operates and sees thousands of walkers hitting the streets in a unified demonstration of their commitment to assist those affected by cancer.

The aim this year was to raise and surpass the USD ½ million raised last year.  Over the past five years, the bank has raised over USD $1.3 million from the event primarily supported by generous corporate donors and diverse fundraising activities and events hosted by staff members. All proceeds raised through this regional effort goes to support critical cancer care services, purchase vital equipment necessary to treat patients and host general education programs to create greater awareness of the disease across the region. The walk is held to coincide with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s CIBC Run for the Cure sponsored by the bank’s parent company, CIBC. CIBC has been supporting this event for 21 years, donating millions to breast cancer research in Canada.

CIBC FirstCaribbean in Curaçao partnered this year again with Stichting Prinses Wilhelmina Fonds to stage the Walk for the Cure. CIBC FirstCaribbean would like to thank the sponsors who generously contributed to the walk namely Always, Amigoe, BTP, CPA, Curoil, Ensure, Extra, Kellogg’s, Klaro, KTK, LBH Group, Neutrogena and NuCuraçao Windparken B.V. “We want to thank all those that have joined us in this walk and all other activities done in light of the walk for the cure 2017. We were honored by the presence of our Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport in our midst. A special thanks goes to our local and regional sponsors and all those who have walked with us,” said Lysaira Ortela, Marketing Manager of CIBC FirstCaribbeean in Curaçao said. “Cancer is a major concern and any one of us or our relatives can be affected at any time. Persons living with cancer need all the support they can get.  We are glad to again this year contribute in a meaningful way to the valuable work done by the Princess Wilhelmina Fonds,”she added.