SHARELL LOCKHART

Freeport News Reporter

sharell@nasguard.com

Past president of the Grand Bahama Taxi Union and president of the Tour Association, Almondo Talbot reached out to Norma Headley president and managing director of the Cancer Association of Grand Bahama in an effort to give back to the community and lend his assistance to the cancer fight.

Talbot a tour bus operator painted his tour bus pink and added the Cancer Association's logo and telephone number on his bus as a way to show his support for the association and help to raise public awareness of cancer.

"I will be conducting tours free of charge for the survivors of cancer and those under the care of Ms. Headley and the Cancer Association as my way of giving back," said Talbot, in an interview with The Freeport News yesterday.

"I feel when you do things like this you are fulfilling a part of God's purpose for your life.

"Persons often ask me why I am so involved with the work of the Cancer Association and whether or not I have cancer?

"I inform them that I do not have cancer, but cancer is a tricky disease whereas you can be well one day and find out you have cancer the next.

"Cancer is no respecter of persons and I feel the need to do what I can in the fight against it," Talbot declared.

The tour operator wants to use his tour bus services as a catalyst to make visitors to the island cognizant of cancer, its affects on persons on the island and possibly get them to join the Cancer Association's fight against the disease.

He thanked Headley for giving him the opportunity to join the association and donating not only his tour bus services to the survivors, but allowing him to make monthly donations to the organization.

"I would like for the people of Grand Bahama to join forces with the Cancer Association in fighting this deadly disease.

"I believe together we all can do so much more and the Cancer Association is a non-profit organization doing good work within the community and every little bit helps," Talbot said.

Headley was all smiles at Talbots gesture and said, she truly appreciates what he is doing along others to help the association in its fight.

"We are very appreciative to our various sponsors and Mr. Talbot, especially, as we still have some unfinished business to take care of.

"Every little bit that we can get to help the Cancer Association of Grand Bahama knowing that it is going to stay right here on Grand Bahama is very important to me.

"Mr. Talbot is a Godsend through him doing this we are bringing in others to really make this place the place it is suppose to be and put the finishing touches on it," Headley expressed.

Headley revealed that the association is in need of some minor upgrades such as the paving of the driveway and with the association's official opening on Sunday, October 14, 2012 in the evening and a paved driveway would be a nice showpiece so persons can see just one aspect of where their donations go.

"We are here to help the people on Grand Bahama because when you come into this world you come in with dignity and we feel as though it is no way should not go back out the same.

"So the work we do here is just our small way of doing just that and that is also why we have Comfort Haven Hospice Care Center," Headley said.

Carolyn Roberts manager of Comfort Haven Hospice Care Center, Talbot and Headley along with members of the association and survivors all came together in celebration of Talbot's donation and the bond they all share in not only battling the dreaded disease but to help each other through it.