Thanks for the Memories: Cancer Walk Comes to an End
Tara A. Spears
During the Breast Cancer Awareness month of October, the Jaltemba Bay Walk against Cancer wants to inform our supporters that the 2020 event was the last fundraiser. For ten years the street party in February was a popular event in Jaltemba Bay. All of the proceeds from the pink parade provided hundreds of free diagnostic mammograms and pap tests to economically disadvantaged area women as well as generating awareness of the importance of early diagnosis. As of this month, all donated funds have been utilized. 
In addition, it is with a heavy heart that the CW committee shares the passing of co-chair Yvonne Trottier, second from right in lead photo. Yvonne was passionate about early detection. The gregarious Canadian was noted for volunteering as she was involved with several local charities besides the Cancer Walk: From the Margarita Challenge to Famosa Horseshoes to Women to Women to the Breast Cancer Clinic, Yvonne worked hard to contribute to all. Her smile and kind heart may have left this earth but her good works and memories of fun times together will live on.
Thank you Yvonne for all your efforts! “There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others,” said a friend. It will be sad to not see her cheerful smile selling tickets at the market!
The reason for having a non-profit group in a Mexican vacation beach town is due to the high incidence of female cancers in this state and because there is a tremendous need for early diagnosis. The state of Nayarit is primarily agricultural with spread out rural villages that cannot provide the diagnostic screenings to local women. In addition, Nayarit has exceptionally high incidence of female cancers.
It was the brainchild of Dorothy Bell to hold a fundraiser to generate funds to provide free mammograms to our small town ladies. Over the years, Cancer Walk has assisted hundreds of area women to receive preventative assessment and optimize their chances for a healthy life.
Unfortunately, based on figures from the Mexican Ministry of Health, breast cancer cases soared by nearly 35 percent in the past year. The registered cases went from 8,723 in 2020 to 11,746 in 2021. The Cancer Walk program also saw an increase in the number of diagnostic tests that found cancer in 2021. We were able to assist pay for one woman chemo treatments and surgery. She is doing well.
According to data from INEGI, the incidence rate of malignant breast tumor nationwide is 18.55 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants aged 20 years and over. The civil organization México Social points out that “this difference is explained, to a large extent, because many women stopped attending their check-ups, and many more no longer had the opportunity to continue receiving timely consultations and treatments due to the pandemic.”
Also during 2021 the Cancer Walk initiative branched out to donate medical mobility equipment- wheelchair, 2 walkers, 2 sets of crutches and 4 new canes- to area residents that were in need.
Many, many thanks go to the key sponsors for 10 years of well-organized events, Patty and Hinde of Hinde & Jaime’s Bar and restaurant in downtown La Penita. Dozens and dozens of area women received early detection mammograms due to the effort of these ladies. A big round of applause needs to go to Dra. Lidiana Flores. Dra. Flores volunteering hundreds of hours year after year of professional service towards overseeing the patient’s medical treatment when cancer was located. God bless you all!
Of course the real applause goes to all of you that bought tickets, auction items or walked with a decorated bra down mainstreet. Yep, good times, good cause. All of these small acts of goodness have had such a big impact. Yvonne is line dancing in heaven and smiling at the good people of La Penita.
