From left: Keith Fernandes, Dr. Syed Ghazi, Ramesh Roopchand and Vidya Bijlall- Sanichara at the launch on Tuesday (Photo: Treiston Joseph)
By Avenash Ramzan
As part of its corporate/social responsibility, Digicel Guyana has once again committed to sponsoring the annual Breast Cancer Awareness cycling race, set for October 22.
This is the sixth year that Digicel has embarked on the signature cycling event and the third instance in which the telecommunication company has partnered with Evolution Cycle Club.
Marketing Manager, Ramesh Roopchand, speaking at the media launch on Tuesday afternoon at the Georgetown Cricket Club pavillion, said over $900,000 would be up for grabs and the company is expecting another successful event.
“Last year was a great success. We’re basically urging everyone to come out, support these cyclists. It’s for a cause and basically the registration fee we get from that we’re going to match it as a company and make that contribution to the Cancer Institute of Guyana,” Roopchand said.
Keith Fernandes of the Evolution Cycle Club was on hand to explain the race route, with action set to pedal off as early as 07:30h.
“The race is going to be held at the outer circuit of the National Park, where it basically starts on Irving Street, heading north towards Carifesta Avenue, west towards Camp Street, south along Camp Street and then we turn east again unto Thomas Lands and back to Irving Street,” Fernandes highlighted.
The country’s leading riders are expected to face the starting line in the seven categories that will be contested on the day.
“So the first race is going to start quite early; we’re going to start with the Digicel staff race and they will be going for bragging rights. For the second race, we going to have the Novices and Mountain Bikes, which is going to go for five laps; they will be racing together. Then the other race we’re going to have the seniors, the juniors and they’re going to go for 35 laps and the Over-45 and Over-45 are going to go 20 laps,” Fernandes explained.
Dr. Syed Ghazi of the Cancer Institute of Guyana said the event is very significant in helping to bring awareness to a disease that is not only plaguing women in Guyana, but globally.
“I’m very thankful to Digicel, who for the last three years has been supporting the Cancer Institute. Look when I go to speak on cancers one thing which I tell people how to decrease the risk factor is exercise. Good nutrition and exercise, and cycling is nothing but exercise so it’s a good combo,” Dr. Ghazi posited.
He continued, “1.2 million people die in the Americas every year with cancer. 96,000 women lose their lives in the Americas to Breast Cancer. 36,000 women lose their lives to Cervical Cancer. It’s time for us to join our talents, join our skills to beat this monster, to go out and join the war against cancer.”
The management of Digicel and the Cancer Institute of Guyana and executives of Evolution Cycle Club are urging Guyanese to come out and witness the day of races as a way of showing support for the fight against Breast Cancer.
