Keeping Abreast with Sheryl Lee Ralph
Published:Friday | October 30, 2015 | 12:00 AM
"When you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, love what you see. Take care of who you see, and remember to put on your own mask first before putting on anybody else's" said actress, singer and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph-Hughes. Ralph-Hughes was the guest speaker at the annual Keeping Abreast Luncheon held by the Jamaica Cancer Society and Jamaica Reach to Recovery at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel last Thursday.
Ralph-Hughes encouraged those present to do their self-breast examination as early detection is their best defense as it can save their life.
Ralph-Hughes had the supporters, sponsors, and breast cancer survivors on the edge of their seats with her powerful words of encouragement and motivation.
After wowing the audience with her beautiful singing, Ralph-Hughes centered her address on joy. "Do what you have to do to walk in joy," she told the audience. She made reference to her book, Redefining Diva: Life Lessons from the Original Dream Girl, and noted that too many people don't have joy, and the people who do have it, tend to ignore it. She also spoke of the importance of finding your true purpose, and encouraged the audience to do what makes them happy. "No one can fight for you like you can fight for yourself," Ralph-Hughes added.
A FULFILLED DAY
Touch of Elegance ensured that guests were thoroughly entertained with renditions such as By the Rivers of Babylon and I Believe in You and Me, while they were treated to a tantalising lunch, which included spicy pumpkin soup garnished with sweet bread croutons, cajun-flavoured snapper with sweet potato rundown, peppercorn crusted chicken breast with red wine with a sorrel reduction, herbed vegetables, and mashed potatoes topped with mushrooms. This was all followed by dessert of bread and butter pudding served with passion fruit rum sauce and vanilla sesame tulip served with fruit punch juice.
Guests were treated to cancer ribbons shaped chocolate courtesy of Digicel, pink and white bags from Sagicor, while pink and red head bands were on sale by Minx Supply. All proceeds went to the Jamaica Cancer Society.
The gate prize, courtesy of Caribbean Airlines, was won by Camille Savage.
Continue to support the fight against breast cancer and do your mammogram. Encourage or teach someone to do their own self-breast examination. You may save that person's life.