Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill will participate in this year’s BF & M Breast Cancer Awareness Walk — the 20th anniversary of the walk.

Minister of Health Jeanne Atherden marked the launch of Breast Cancer Awareness Month at a ceremony attended by Mr Spithill among others.

Ms Atherden said: “We stand here today in solidarity with those living with breast cancer, those who lost their lives to this disease and to salute the survivors who won the battles. In my role as Minister for Health and Seniors, I hereby declare the month of October 2016 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Bermuda.

“Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women worldwide after lung cancer. In Bermuda, it’s women’s leading cause of death by cancer. According to the Tumour Registry, 62 cases of diagnosed breast cancer were recorded in 2015.

“Breast cancer continues to affect one in eight women … As we observe Breast Cancer Awareness month, I urge all mothers, sisters, aunts, wives and friends to protect their health and longevity and have a mammogram as recommended by their physicians.”

Speaking of the awareness walk, Mr Spithill added: “A big thank you to BF & M for being the sole supporter of this for so long, of such an amazing and important walk that’s coming up on the 20 October. We will be there. If I’m not sailing, I will be doing the walk. If I am sailing, there will be a lot of support from our friends and family and obviously from the America’s Cup. I was talking to my team mates this morning about it — cancer, specifically breast cancer, is one of those opponents that … requires an approach that we athletes take daily. That is a relentless approach and a never-give-up attitude. The way to do it is to get out there and help crowd awareness. The BF & M Breast Cancer Awareness Walk is a perfect example of that and we’re very proud to be a part of it. We will be doing everything we can to help support this and get the word out there.”

Funds we raise this year will go not only to the Equal Access Fund, so that diagnostic imaging can be available to Bermudian residents who do not have health insurance, but also to Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre’s Radiation Therapy initiative, which will allow residents to receive treatment here on the island for the first time.

The BF & M walk takes place on October 20 at Barr’s Bay Park from 6pm. The rain date is Monday, October 24.