Cancer survivor gives helping hand to fighters

When Kaydia Levien-McKoy visited the home of breast cancer fighter Georgia Baker a few months ago, she was moved by the fact that the patient had to make a decision whether to buy food or to continue her treatment.

"She was doing chemo at the time, and when I went to visit her I took some fruits. She was so appreciative, but when I looked at her hands and feet they were black and sore. She expressed to me that she is not able to work because of the soreness and she's not able to purchase groceries, pay her rent and bills, and repair her car, which needed tyres," Levien-McKoy, a cancer survivor, said.

Levien-McKoy, who has been cancer free for two years, said when she left the home of the breast cancer fighter that day, she kept asking herself what she could do to help patients who are struggling. It was then that the idea of her fund-raiser, Pink In June, was born. She began working the telephone and soon secured pledges from corporate entities such as Ammar's, Sagicor, Golden Grocery, Champion Battery, D Wright Prolific Haulage, Purity Bakery and Totally Male. She also held an event, which featured saxophonist Daniel Jackson, to celebrate cancer fighters.

The Pink In June initiative netted $170,000 which was given to two cancer fighters, Baker and Joyce Jackson.

"I handed over the cash and I said to the ladies, 'It's yours do whatever you want to do. I am not going to put a tracker on how you want to spend it...get your hair done, buy groceries go to a restaurant and eat something nice'," Levien-McKoy said.

She said that battling cancer is difficult mentally, physically, financially and emotionally. She insists that "sometimes a little self-love and pampering will help uplift fighting spirits".

Levien-McKoy lamented that a lot of women who are fighting cancer or serious illnesses are unable to work, and this affects their ability to purchase food.

"I get heartbroken when a fighter wants to give up and cry because of the financial strain," she said, adding that while some entities provide financial support for a patient's medical bills, many do not consider the fact that sick persons have other needs.

"These women need food and self-care. They have bills and other needs that require cash in hand. This strain of not being able to provide will and can cause them to give up on fighting for life because of how they feel," Levien-McKoy said.

The cancer survivor anticipates Pink In June becoming a massive event, which will not only bring awareness to the struggles of fighters, but would also provide them with financial assistance to help them cope.