8TH ANNUAL PINK SUNSET SAIL BY AQUA MANIA ADVENTURES RAISES OVER $5,500 IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS FOUNDATIONS
October 4, 2023 – Simpson Bay, St. Maarten – Aqua Mania Adventures proudly hosted the 8th annual Pink Sunset Sail on September 30th, 2023, marking the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Welcoming over 150 attendees, this beloved event continued its mission to raise awareness and support local foundations dedicated to breast cancer awareness.
This year, the Pink Sunset Sail garnered an impressive total of $5,527 through ticket sales and its popular raffle. The proceeds will be donated to the Elektralyets and Positive Foundations, both dedicated to promoting breast cancer awareness and encouraging early detection among women and men on St. Maarten.
The event featured 150 enthusiastic participants, divided over Aqua Mania’s popular sailing catamaran, Tango and Out Island Charter’s Eagle IV, and embarked on a 90-minute coastal sail along the stunning St. Maarten coastline. Attendees eagerly purchased raffle tickets for a chance to win fabulous prizes, generously sponsored by numerous local businesses.
Michele Korteweg, the event organizer on behalf of Aqua Mania Adventures, shared her thoughts on the growing popularity of the Pink Sunset Sail, saying, “The Pink Sunset Sail continues to gain momentum each year, and this year, we were thrilled to welcome many new guests, locally and visiting the island. The event not only brings people together for an enjoyable evening but also serves as an educational platform to raise awareness about early detection. Many companies also rallied their staff to participate, whether as a team outing or to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Out Island Charter’s donation of their sailing catamaran is another fantastic example of how local businesses can contribute to the Event, as it increased the amount of the contribution for the Foundations”. We hope to witness this continued support in the years to come.”
The event commenced with the Pink Mixer, where guests were treated to welcome drinks and hors d’oeuvres generously sponsored by Domino’s, ILTT, Captain D, and La Patrona. The Best Dressed Award was again given out, this time for both male and female, awarding participants for their unique or extravagant outfits.
Korteweg expressed gratitude for the raffle’s success, stating, “The raffle is always a highlight, with 100 prizes donated by over 60 local companies. We are immensely proud and grateful for the unwavering support of our local community and businesses, which enables us to grow this event and fundraiser every year by contributing prizes to the raffle.
Throughout October, the Positive and Elektralyets Foundation, in collaboration with partners including the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), local medical practitioners, the American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine, Collective Prevention Services (CPS), the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor VSA, will offer free screening opportunities, including 100 free mammograms for uninsured individuals, breast self-examination workshops, in-person presentations on breast cancer awareness, and educational literature at various events. Several medical clinics will offer free breast cancer screenings throughout the month of October.
By keeping breast cancer awareness campaigns engaging, interactive, creative, and innovative we can connect and stimulate the community to be proactive with regards to getting checked and helping to reduce risk factors. Through various activities, events, and information sessions we are striving to create a safe space where persons can talk openly about their breast health says Elektralyets Foundation President Mercedes” Elektra “van der Waals-Wyatt.
Additionally, the Foundations and their partners are relaunching the breast abnormalities screening program for women aged 18 and older. This initiative, which began in 2017, aims to identify breast abnormalities that may be risk factors for breast diseases at an early stage and refer participants for further diagnosis and treatment. To date, approximately 600 women have participated in this project with a goal of screening 1000 women to complete the project. The screening includes a free clinical breast examination, a health screening, and education on breast cancer and its risk factors.
Shelly Alphonso, President of the Positive Foundation, emphasized, “These are just a few of the ways the Positive and Elektralyets Foundation aim to educate our community on the importance of early detection, risk factors, and the symptoms and signs of breast cancer. We are deeply grateful for the support of businesses like Aqua Mania Adventures in championing our cause.”
The 9th edition of the Pink Sunset Sail is scheduled for Saturday, October 5th, 2024, and will once again be hosted by Aqua Mania Adventures. Their sunset sails and various other trips are available year-round. For more information, please visit www.stmaarten-activities.com.
The breast cancer awareness movement was launched in 1998 by the Positive Foundation, which has collaborated with the Elektralyets Foundation for the last 15 years in the fight to save lives through their call to action for the community to GET CHECKED.
Back to the Visit St Maarten Main page
Back to the Visit St Maarten Blog Main page