A NEW Bermuda cancer charity, the Cancer Assistance Research Foundation (CARF), has been registered as charity number 651.

The initial committee consists of Idell Virgil as president, Elizabeth (Betty) Cross as vice-president, Eleanor Joell as corporate secretary, Claire Anne Moore as assistant secretary and public relations, Gladys Dillas as treasurer, Willard (Foxy) Fox as consultant and others.

CARF has been founded in response to the alarming rate at which a variety of cancers is claiming lives. At present, an abundant amount of resources, promotion and funding is allocated towards breast and prostate cancers. A large number of other cancers also affects Bermudians each year, many under the age of 60. Such cancers include colon, stomach, lymphoid, brain tumours and others.

Numerous registered charities and foundations have been established for a variety of reasons and CARF intends to play a vital role within the community. CARF will be providing assistance in three ways: financially, educationally and spiritually.

CARF can help by decreasing the financial burden for families of "proven" victims by assisting with airfare and lodging for overseas cancer treatments as well as medications. Unlike other charities, CARF does not seek reimbursement for such expenses. Such financial assistance can ease the pressure and allow others to focus on other aspects of dealing with the illness.

"Too often we hear statements such as, 'How can we come up with the airfare, or how can we pay for lodging for weeks of radiation treatment'?" said a spokesman for CARF. "And we all know that the insurance companies are not too keen on reinsuring those diagnosed with cancer, no matter how early the stages or condition is.

"This is a fact! And even for those who do have insurance, it eventually tapers off. Individual insurance is close to impossible to arrange and the premiums are so high."

She continued: "If you have been diagnosed with the 'monster' disease, cancer, you do not need the added stress. For some reason we have the mentality of 'If it isn't me or my family, I don't truly care' and that's where CARF steps in. CARF will educate and assist members in how to go about obtaining cancer insurance.

"After all, each committee member knows first hand what it is like to defeat or deal with a debilitating illness."

There will be a rotation of support groups for one's particular cancer, with local and celebrity guests flying in to provide inspirational talks. The message will be "I Can, rather than I Can't". Those who have studied nutrition and natural herbs will also provide insight.

"Victims and their families will be made to realise that 'there is more than one way to skin a cat' and not every treatment is for everybody," the spokesman said.

"Our network system can provide hope on a more one-on-one basis by linking an individual who has a certain type of cancer with another who has either dealt with the same cancer, is dealing with it or has a relative or close friend who has," she said.

"One of the worst things is for a smoker who is attempting to quit discuss his or her situation with someone who has never smoked. It is more effective if they can pick up the phone or e-mail someone who smoked and successfully quit. After all, you never know until you have walked in the shoes of another man no matter how compassionate you are."

CARF also intends to develop a network of participants to assist in communal drug purchase costs and medical treatment options. Those who choose to use a certain drug (either pharmaceutical or natural) can feel more comfortable with the price they are paying, which should be lower on a group basis than if the drugs were purchased by each individual individually versus several buyers.

"CARF can also connect victims with a variety of accredited outreach programmes for further support so that they may be enlightened to other options or treatments," the spokesman said. "Not every hospital, drug or doctor is for everybody and that's what makes us individuals.

"Many are told by their Bermudian insurance companies that in order to be covered they must deal with physician or hospital A, B or C and that is not always the right match. Some hospitals are better geared towards different types of cancer, just as there are specialists who deal better with certain parts of the body. CARF will make participants aware of these choices," she said.

CARF also intends to arrange inspirational travel tours, where participants can visit different holistic centres in the world, at an affordable cost. Bermudian participants can also be active in an exchange "inspir-share" travel programme on speaking engagements, whereby Bermudians can exchange experiences and practices with overseas partners.

Finally, CARF is hoping to look into research both in Bermuda and overseas.

"Surveys will be completed by all and compared with other cultures," the spokesman said. "Are certain cancers genetic, environmental or triggered by our nutritional intake? Is there any connection between Dr. Jamie Bacon's research into the deformities of our natural inhabitants, the Bermuda toad and toadlet populations and the spread of cancer on the island? These are some of the answers that CARF hopes to obtain."

In addition, a proper data system will be kept so as to attain more realistic cancer statistics.

"It is great that the hospital will provide a database as well, but how about those Bermudians that have nothing to do with our local hospital for one reason or another?" asked the spokesman. "Hence, just as cancer is a disease that takes you on a journey so is the vision of CARF and we invite everyone to make all of the aforementioned a reality."

CARF can be contacted at carfcanaol.com. A web site is being developed.