Judith Titley Corea was a proud mother, wife, sister, aunt, friend and entrepreneur. In 1992, she noticed a lump in her breast. Her discovery came only three day following a medical examination by a licensed physician. She shared her findings with her family who encouraged her to seek medical advice. She did and her suspicion was confirmed through a mammogram and biopsy. The news was devastating to both her and her family. However, being the strong resilient person she was; she devised an action plan after consultation with family members and her physician and began treatment. She braved a partial mastectomy and chemotherapy with faith in her recovery.

Following aggressive chemotherapy she began her regiment of tamoxifen and a change in her eating habit and ate mainly a plant based diet. Judith as convinced that there was a link between cancer and the food we ate. She believed that a plant based diet could help reduce ones risk for cancer as well as help in the treatment of the disease.  She encouraged everyone she came in contact with to get tested.

Judith did well for a few years and just as she approached her 5 year remission mark, in March 1996 she noticed she was getting winded after minor exertion. Nevertheless, she remained strong enough to witness the wedding of her eldest daughter Dawn. Following the wedding, she admitted that she wasn’t feeling well and a visit to her physician confirmed the family’s worst fears- the cancer had returned.

She made the decision to obtain treatment in Boston, following the encouragement of her sister Monica Titley Smith who lived in Boston. Her making it to Boston was a miracle as her lungs were severely affected. Judith underwent a procedure to remove fluid from her lungs and more aggressive chemotherapy at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. While at her sister’s home resting, she shared her concern regarding the lack of support for cancer patients and lamented how little was known about the disease which helped to fuel a fear of cancer in the community.

Dawn had also witnessed firsthand at the Dana Farber Hospital the tremendous support cancer patients received from different cancer organizations and the difference it made. Judith shared wanting to feel better so she could use her energy to establish an organization to help educate and support persons suffering from cancer. She shared her vision with family and friends and enlisted the help of her daughter Dawn. Dawn promised to help her mother as soon as she was well enough and was back home.

After several months in Boston she returned home. It was during this time; in September 1997 Dawn got busy researching and planning for the establishment the organization her mother envisioned to help persons living with cancer. Her hope was to have the society established while her mother was still alive but that did not materialize as Dawn had to put her research and planning on hold to help care for her mom.  Dawn’s efforts were supported financially and morally by her father, Mr. Alric Corea, Businessman and Philanthropist, her husband Linton Leonard and her older siblings Derick and Colette encouraged her every step of the way. Dawn worked in the Department of Health and also received assistance and support from her colleagues also.

Sadly, in early November 1997, after a few months at home she began to feel worst and was airlifted back to Boston. Judith’s condition at this time was grave but the family was hopeful. After almost one week of being back in the hospital, Judith passed on 9^th November 1997 at the Brigham and Women Hospital.  Judith was laid to rest on 14^th November 1997.

Following her mother’s funeral, Dawn began to work again. She was relentless as she reached out the regionally established cancer societies such as the St. Lucia Cancer Society, the Jamaica Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, St. Thomas Division as well as the America Cancer Society. The presidents and administrators were all very welcoming and gave advice on how to go about establishing such an organization. Calls, emails and facsimiles were exchange and by 27^th January 1998, after she received confirmation that a representative from the Jamaica Cancer Society was willing to come to the BVI and speak to a group of person interested in the establishment of a Cancer Society in the BVI; a public meeting was called and 41 persons attended.

Ms. Barbara-Ann Garcia, Administrator of the Jamaica Cancer Society was the guest speaker. Mrs. Corea-Leonard chaired the meeting. She shared with the group the purpose of the meeting and enlisting their support. Ms. Garcia spoke about her role in the Jamaica Cancer Society; she underscored the need for the establishment of such an organization to be formed in the BVI. She also pledged her Society’s support and encouraged person to get onboard.

Ms. Garcia was also invited to be the guest speak at Rotary Club. She also made courtesy visits with the then Minister for Health, Education and Welfare and visited Peebles Hospital.

On 19^th February 1998 at a General meeting, Mrs. Dawn Corea-Leonard was unanimously elected President of the BVI Cancer Society. The founder Mrs. Corea-Leonard was overwhelmed with the support and the passion of the new members. During the meeting she enlisted their continued support citing that the Society is new and would require all the support possible to be successful.

Immediately following that general meeting an aggressive membership drive began, and the Inaugural Executive Committee got busy working on plans to officially launch the Society with a Candle Light Vigil.

The newly formed Inaugural Executive was comprised of:

President –                               Dawn Corea Leonard (Founder)

Vice President –                       Frederick Coville

Secretary                                 Colette Corea-Saunders

Asst. Secretary-                        Stephanie Faulkner

Treasurer-                                 Astrid Wenzke

Asst. Treasurer –                       Bernice Farrington

Public Relations Officer –         Blanche Delia Smith

Committee Members-

                                                Hyacinth Selkridge

                                                Ursula Mikoleiczik

                                                Robert “Storm” Wright

Trustees-                                   Mrs. Antoinette Skelton and Dr. Robert Tattersall, OBE

On Saturday 27^th June 1998 at the gardens of the Government Central Administration Complex in Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands; the British Virgin Islands Cancer Society was Officially Inaugurated under the slogan “Together We Win”.

The event was celebrated the life of survivors with an opening prayer, remarks by the newly appointed President and Founder, remarks by visiting President, Fern Laborde- American Cancer Society, St. Thomas Division, Debra-Ann Christopher of the Breast and Cervical Coalition, St. Croix, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. D. Orlando Smith, as well Dr. Kederick Pickering, OBG/GYN in addition to many selections of poems, songs, monologue, aerobic exhibition and dance by various persons in the community. Most of whom was touched by cancer and others who just wanted to pledge their support to the Society and its cause. The last item was the lighting of candles to remember those who lost the battle.

The Society’s logo was created by Graphic Artist, Linton Leonard, husband of Mrs. Dawn Corea- Leonard. He designed a logo inclusive of both genders. Leonard drew a logo utilizing the universal symbol for male and female to spell out the word cancer in the name British Virgin Islands Cancer Society.

The newly founded Society needed a constitution to guide its work and O’Neal Webster O’Neal Myers and Fletcher Law Firm volunteered their services offering pro bono legal advice and drafted the Society’s Constitution.

The events’ booklet was filled with congratulatory messages by the Founder and President, Mrs. Dawn Corea-Leonard, the then Governor of the Virgin Islands, Hon. David Mackilligin, Chief Minister, Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal, Minister for Health Education and Welfare, Hon. Eileen Parson, Chief Cancer Control Officer, Dr. Patricia Hoge, American Cancer Society, and Barbara Ann Garcia, Administrator, Jamaica Cancer Society.

The Society also received overwhelming support from local businesses and Individuals. 

For approximately 7 years, the Society experienced a hiatus its inauguration. However, in 2009, having faced her own battles with cancer, Ms. Althea Guishard approached the Founder Mrs. Dawn Corea Leonard about reviving the Society. Mrs. Corea-Leonard rose once again to the challenge, called a public meeting and with the assistance of a small group of interested persons started the process of reviving the BVI Cancer Society. A meeting was held on March 5, 2009 and on Saturday June 6, 2009, the Society held a Candle Light Vigil in the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park to revive the Society.

Ms. Guishard was voted President during a general election and served until 2010.  In that year members of the BVI Cancer Society showed solidarity with sister society – American Cancer Society, St. Thomas Division and participated in their Relay for Life. 

The next person to serve as president was Mrs. Rosie Dawson who served between 2010 -2011.

Mrs. Theresa Frett, who was a member of the Society from its inauguration served as President from 2011 – 2013. .

In 2013, Ms. Gloria Fahie a vivacious, brave lady assumed the role as President.  A breast cancer survivor, Gloria dove in headfirst and was very instrumental increasing the awareness of breast cancer throughout the Territory.  Through various community partnerships, national events such as Paint the Town Pink, Walks for Cancer and ongoing membership drives. The BVI Cancer Society has transcended the lives of just those personally touched by the disease; it is now known throughout households in the British Virgins Islands. 

On November 3^rd, 2018, following two unprecedented category five hurricanes, the Society celebrated its 20^th Anniversary in grand style with a Gala Dinner Celebration at the Mooring Marina Inn Restaurant in collaboration with the Miss World Committee.  The event honoured the Founder Mrs. Dawn Corea-Leonard along with the Inaugural Executive Committee Members, . Over 200 tickets were sold.  The event was a huge success. President Gloria Fahie was crowned “Miss BVI Cancer Society” for her hard work and dedication.

Dr. Fredrick Coville, Plastic Surgeon and Former Vice President and President of the Society flew in from New Jersey to be honoured and gave brief remarks.

During the event, Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. Kederick Pickering remarked on the possibilities of medicinal marijuana being a cure for cancer, while reminiscing on the hard work Mrs. Corea- Leonard did to establish the Society.  Mrs. Dawn Corea-Leonard in her remarks, called for cancer research as the incidents of cancer continues to increase in the small territory. Minister of Health and Social Development, Hon. Ronnie Skelton revealed his Ministry’s plans of implementing a National Cancer Registry.

Ms. Gloira Fahie announced at the gala that the society has secured its own space after sharing space with the BVI Diabetes Association since 2011 and prior to that the Society shared office space with BVI Red Cross. She also announced that the society was in need of at least one full-time staff.