SYGNUS has once again reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against breast cancer with donations of $400,000 each to the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) and Jamaica Reach To Recovery (JR2R).

This handover marks the fifth-consecutive year that Sygnus has stepped up to empower women and men across Jamaica with access to critical screenings, care, and emotional support.

Since the initiative was launched, Sygnus has enabled hundreds of Jamaicans to receive free or subsidised mammograms through the JCS while also helping JR2R to provide care packages, counselling, and survivor support services.

This year’s donation will continue to fund these vital services while contributing toward the JCS fund-raising appeal for a state-of-the-art mammography machine.

Acquisition of this machine will significantly strengthen early detection efforts, expanding access to life-saving screenings for women across the island.

Damani Reid, senior manager of investment management at Sygnus, says the partnership with the two non-governmental organisations at the forefront of the fight against cancer represents more than a corporate gesture.

“For us at Sygnus, this partnership is… a shared commitment to hope, healing, and humanity. Each year we see how these contributions help people take control of their health, access life-saving screenings, and find the strength to rebuild their lives.

“We are proud to walk alongside the Jamaica Cancer Society and Jamaica Reach to Recovery as partners in this fight, ensuring that awareness leads to action and that no one faces breast cancer alone,” said Reid.

Executive director of JCS Roshane Reid-Koomson welcomed Sygnus’s continued partnership as she highlighted the impact of its donation.

“The Jamaica Cancer Society has launched a new appeal to fund a mammography machine, which will cost $50 million. While this handover is symbolic it is also incredibly practical for us because so many women are in need of mammograms.

“In 2022 alone Jamaica recorded more than 1,300 new cases of breast cancer. Cancer remains the second leading cause of deaths in Jamaica. Screening is directly tied to treatment — if we cannot screen, we cannot detect; and if we cannot detect, we cannot treat. That is why this appeal for a new mammography machine is so important. Survivorship depends on early detection,” said Reid-Koomson.

“We are incredibly grateful to Sygnus for partnering with us once again, providing a donation that will go towards free screenings for women. Contributions like this make a real difference and help sustain our work. We look forward to many more years of partnership and impact together,” added Reid-Koomson.

In addition to its ongoing support for screening services, Sygnus’ contribution to JR2R continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of breast cancer survivors and women undergoing treatment.

“On behalf of all the women we serve, we are deeply grateful to Sygnus for its consistent support over the past five years. At Jamaica Reach to Recovery we are not funded by the Government or any organisation, and we rely entirely on donations and fund-raising.

“Contributions like Sygnus’s make a real difference, helping women access essential services such as mammograms, needle biopsies, scans, medication, and other treatment-related costs that can run up to $150,000 per person. A diagnosis of breast cancer comes with significant financial challenges, and every cent counts. Sygnus’s generosity ensures that more women can receive the care they need — and for that, we are truly thankful,” said Sandra Samuels, president of JR2R.

Breast cancer remains the most widespread cancer among women in Jamaica, and early detection continues to be the most effective weapon in saving lives. Recent local expert analysis highlights that:

• Jamaican women are diagnosed at a younger age than their US counterparts, with a median onset of 52-54 years.

• Nearly half of patients are diagnosed at stage 3 or 4, with 33-36 per cent under 50 and 16 per cent younger than 40.

• Breast cancer tends to be more aggressive locally, with a higher prevalence of triple-negative cancers.

• Only eight of Jamaica’s 14 parishes currently offer mammography access.