Friends and supporters of Bowel Cancer Guernsey gathered at the Guernsey Yacht Club earlier this month to celebrate the charity’s 20th anniversary.
Sisters Anne Brouard and Sara Gould founded Bowel Cancer Guernsey following the loss of their sister, Jane, to the disease at the age of 43. For the past two decades, the charity has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer alongside its prevention and treatment.
Working with staff of Health and Social Care the charity’s fundraising efforts have also helped to provide essential equipment and training to help with the detection and treatment of bowel cancer. A new screening programme has also been introduced to aid detection of the disease amongst islanders aged 60 to 70 years.
The charity is looking forward to continuing to raise vital awareness of the disease through a series of special events to mark its 20th birthday.
Anne Brouard, Bowel Cancer Guernsey Chairperson, said: “I’m so proud of how much we have achieved over these past 20 years, it’s certainly been a team effort between our committee, the HSC, PEH and of course islanders across the Bailiwick.
“In addition to hosting so many fabulous and memorable events over the past two decades, we’ve worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the disease while helping to generate the vital funds needed to help prevent it. We’re looking forward to building on this work and helping more islanders as we head into our third decade.”
Dr Peter Gomes, Lead Oncologist at the Medical Specialist Group, said: “Thanks to the charity’s very important work and to advances in the diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer, we are in a strong position to help more people affected by the disease.
“Through consistent fundraising activity the charity has helped enormously in the purchase of vital equipment, improving the investigation and care of bowel cancer patients. In addition, the charity’s work promoting greater awareness of the symptoms and signs of the disease has encouraged more people to visit their doctor sooner, which has undoubtedly saved lives.”
