After announcing the suspension of its operations in the U.S. Virgin Islands on December 11, 2017, the American Cancer Society today said that it has resumed its services in the territory.
In its release issued Wednesday afternoon, the Society said it was able to help USVI cancer patients as the territory continued to recover from the 2017 storms and will continue to do so in 2019. It stated that hundreds of dedicated volunteers throughout the territory spent countless hours and resources planning and executing two Relay For Life events, one on St. Croix in October 2018 that was chaired by Dona Browne Jones, and one on St. Thomas in January 2019 hosted by the St. Thomas East End Medical Center Foundation and chaired by Monife Stout. Together they raised over $45,000, the Society said.
In its 2017 statement, the Society said income from its primary community fundraiser, Relay For Life, had been declining for a number of years, while the demand for direct financial assistance to patients had increased — resulting in a drawing down of the locally restricted funds.
Today, however, the Society thanked the sponsors, donors, participants, committee members and survivors who supported the recent events put on even after the suspension was announced.
In 2018 the American Cancer Society was able to serve USVI cancer patients by providing a $33,000 grant to Cancer Support VI that supplied transportation, lodging and financial assistance during active cancer treatment, as well as hospice care to USVI cancer patients throughout the territory, according to the release.
Additionally, $14,000 in grants were provided to St. Thomas Radiology and Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center for screening mammograms, and cancer education and prevention materials were supplied to local volunteers to distribute within the community. The American Cancer Society’s “Hope Lodge”, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, housed USVI cancer patients for a total of 672 nights as well as provided ground transportation to and from treatment, the release said.
The Society stressed its dedication to continuing all the above services in 2019. In addition, cancer patients and their caregivers can reach ACS 24 hours a day, seven days a week through our toll-free support line, 1.800.227.2345, and cancer.org to receive personalized information, guidance and resources. “Our ongoing work in areas like research and public policy also continue to benefit the people of the USVI,” the Society said.
ACS said it remains committed to restricting 100 percent of the funds raised in USVI to be spent in the USVI. All services provided are exclusively funded by local donations. In 2019, residents have the opportunity to advance ACS’s mission in the territory by supporting the upcoming St. Croix Relay For Life on May 25 & 26, or by making an online donation at RelayForLife.org/stcroixvi. Donations to this event will benefit all of the USVI territory, the release stressed.
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