Andrew Green had one big reason to donate $50,000 to Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre — to honour his mother who lost her fight with the disease 20 years ago.

The 29-year-old and his father Peter Green, 74, presented the charity with the donation yesterday and hoped the money would prevent others from losing their lives.

Andrew's mother, Mary-Jean, died from breast cancer in 1990, and since then the family has been passionate about supporting the cause.

Andrew, who was nine-years-old when she passed, remembers her as "an incredible, dynamic woman".

He said: "She was 39-years-old when she died and you know it just shows it can happen to anyone. She was active, fit and healthy and had just climbed the Matterhorn in 1985."

In memory of her climb 25 years ago, he plans to summit the same mountain on the border between Switzerland and Italy later this summer.

He and his father have created their own scholarship programme on the Island, and give ten students the chance at a university education each year.

The Green family has also been actively involved with UK-based charity Break Through since it was founded two decades ago.

Andrew said: "We made a donation to (Bermuda Cancer and Health) a few years ago and we felt it had definitely been too long since we supported them. And it was just nice to give back."

He continued: "I am delighted (to help out). I think it is a great organisation, they do a good job of getting people in Bermuda aware of the need for mammograms."

Their $50,000 donation will allow Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre to buy a new ultrasound machine, which will increase early cancer detection on the Island.

The equipment is also expected to decrease the time between screening and diagnosis for patients.

The money is a great head start for the organisation, which is looking to raise $750,000 over the next two years to upgrade equipment and improve patient support systems.

Executive Director of the cancer charity, Tara Soares said: "We are immensely grateful to the Green family for their continued support of Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre. Through the continuous financial support of the community, we are achieving our goal of offering quality clinical services."

The centre now offer a variety of services, including a full range of ultrasound scans, digital mammogram technology and bone densitometry for early diagnosis of osteoporosis.

A charity spokesperson said: "We feel assured that with the support of the people in our community, Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre will reach its target, and will continue to advance the cancer health care available in Bermuda through its investments in people, medicine and technology, now and for the future."

For more information on Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre or to donate call 236-1001.