As the sun set over the Police Officers’ Club in St. Andrew, a sea of torch-lit determination ignited Jamaica’s annual Relay for Life. Among the crowd, a red wave of over 100 Scotia volunteers moved in quiet solidarity—not just walking, but standing for a nation’s resilience in the face of cancer.
This wasn’t a photo op. It was presence with purpose.
While teams relayed through the night, Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance Company made a decisive gesture of its own—donating J$2 million to the Jamaica Cancer Society. The funding is earmarked to expand education, screening access, and treatment assistance islandwide.
More than a relay, the event served as a collective heartbeat. Children, elders, survivors, and supporters walked not just to remember, but to reaffirm. For Scotia, the commitment wasn’t just financial—it was human. Their booth pulsed with energy, featuring live art installations and refreshments powered by DeafCan, amplifying inclusion alongside awareness.
Debra Spence, President of Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance, reframed the conversation around protection. “Critical illness doesn’t knock politely,” she remarked. “Our CritiCare plan isn’t just insurance—it’s a declaration that every Jamaican deserves a fighting chance.”
The Jamaica Cancer Society’s Roshane Reid Koomson echoed the sentiment: “Every name remembered tonight is a story that deserved more chapters. Early detection gives families time. And time is everything.”
From the ceremonial survivor lap to the quiet moments of reflection under candlelight, the evening closed not in mourning, but in resolve. Scotia’s presence underscored a deeper truth: when corporations show up with empathy and action, the fight against cancer becomes less isolated—and more winnable.
