Thanks for the Memories: Cancer Walk Comes to an End
Tara A. Spears
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.
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.
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!