By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

FLOOR length stylish gowns and black suits and ties were on display last month when Bahamians turned out to support the Cancer Society of The Bahamas’ 12th Annual Ball at the Sheraton Nassau Resort, Cable Beach.

Under the theme “Care, Connect, Cure”, Bahamians showed their support by attending and enjoying an evening filled with entertainment.

“People really stayed almost until 1:30 am dancing and enjoying themselves. The combination of the atmosphere, the decor, the food, the music and the people being able to network and socialise was really good. Next year we are hoping to increase our table numbers. Our attitude is, even if we make one dollar it is a dollar more than what we had,” said Cindy Williams-Rahming, vice president of the Cancer Society of the Bahamas and ball chairman.

She said 51 of the 65 tables will filled for the event, which included performances by the Police Force Band, the Tingum Dem band led by Fred Ferguson and Visage, led by Obi Pindling.

“This was still really not bad considering the economy and (the performance of other balls). We are pretty pleased with the way the ball turned out and the way corporate Bahamas supported us,” said Ms Williams-Rahming, who estimated the fund raising tally around $80,000.

“Our goal really was one hundred thousand or beyond, so we really have a little more work to do next year,” she said.

“The money raised is going towards the Cancer Caring Centre which is located on Rusty Bethel Drive. This centre is a home away from home for basically family island patients who come to Nassau for treatment for cancer and have nowhere to live or no family members they can stay with,” said Ms Williams-Rahming.

The centre has ten rooms with two beds in each room, one for the patient and one for the caregiver.

“Bahamians stay free, but we do have a couple of foreigners that come in from time to time from different islands inside the Caribbean, and they are charged a minimal cost per night,” said Ms Williams-Rahming.

“The centre really is for Bahamians to be able to relax while they are getting treatment. It has a full staff, a kitchen and grounds for them to walk around. We also have a bus service that takes them to and from their treatment. It is really just for them to be comfortable while they are there. Cancer is on the rise in every area and sadly to say, we are always full at the centre,” she said.

Moving forward, Ms Williams-Rahming said their goal is to expand the centre to be able to house more patients.

Lovern Wildgoose, president of the Cancer Society of the Bahamas, said the goal is to also accommodate more patients from the Family Islands.

“We actually wanted to do a hospice but we don’t have the money right now so we are going to go ahead with the expansion of the Caring Centre by adding an additional ten rooms,” she said.

Ms Wildgoose said building of an adult support group is also at the top of their to-do list. She said this is something that is on schedule for next month.

“I think it is very important for the Cancer Centre to have that vibrant support group back and we are getting that all sorted out. We have a youth support group and recently a child support group, but we need that adult support group. We have so much persons calling in, who were recently diagnosed with cancer and they are looking for support,” said Ms Wildgoose.

Ms Williams-Rahming said the Cancer Society’s Ball is a major fundraiser for the Cancer Caring Centre and it is really important for them to raise as much money as they can.

“Our goal each year is to make it bigger and better than before. We had a lot of positive comments this year and the ball was really well attended. We were also able to have the presence of the prime minister of the Bahamas, the deputy prime minister and the attorney general. We are looking forward to their support in the future as well and hopefully that will encourage more people to come out,” said Ms Williams-Rahming.