Noel & Chevaughn Joseph with Dr Manning-Alleyne and West Brian Jones

"Gone are the days when cancer is just for adults--lung cancer or cervical cancer. Its affecting our children in a big way and a lot of people are not aware of it" she said on Wednesday. Joseph made the statement after being presented with a check for $17,490 by the Rotary Club of Port-of-Spain West at the cascadia Hotel in St Anns.

A non-profit organization, The Just Because Foundation was established by Joseph and her husband Noel in August 2007 after the death of their son Jabez.The young boy was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma, at the age of 3-1/2. He died two years later. Joseph said when jabez was diagnosed with the condition, she and Noel did not know how to deal with the situation.

"When he dies last year at 5-1/2 years, we still did not know what god had in store for us. But now we know based on what we are doing, by being able to help other families with children with cancer, it gives purpose to why he got sick and why he died" said Joseph.

Excerpted from the Trinidad Guardian