WHEN PATRICIA MERRITT had the chance to make a wish in the Santa’s Wish List promotion, she chose several local charities.
Among them was a $1 000 donation to the Barbados Cancer Society, having seen the effects of cancer on family members.
That wish was judged the winner of the promotion and president of the society, Dr Dorothy Cooke-Johnson, was presented with a $1 000 cheque on Wednesday at the office of the Nation Publishing Company on Fontabelle.
Merritt also made wishes for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Salvation Army. However, she said the Cancer Society was close to her heart, since cancer had touched her family on many occasions.
Her father died from cancer, she had a sister undergo surgery for colon cancer, another sister is a breast cancer survivor, while her best friend had prostate surgery recently.
“You can see the work the Cancer Society does assisting people affected by cancer and they have recently been bringing awareness to prostate cancer and the other cancers. They just do a fantastic job and I wish it was more they could be getting,” Merritt said.
Cooke-Johnson, in accepting the cheque, said she was amazed that an individual would make a wish to support the society.
“That was absolutely wonderful. It was a great idea and she has made a difference for the New Year,” Cooke-Johnson said.
She also asked to meet Merritt, and if possible have her visit the society to determine how she would like to have the money used.
Advertising Administrative Manager of the Nation Publishing Company Trevor Marshall said it was expected that people would ask for iPads and iPhones and all kinds of things.
“She came along with this, which was great,” Marshall said.
The Santa’s Wish List promotion was a joint venture between the Nation and Caribbean Media Solutions. Participants were asked to call and answer one question for a chance to be entered. (LK)
