L-R: Olabisi Oladiran, Founder WinCancer Foundation; Rasheed Bolarinwa, Head, Brand Management & Corporate Communications, Polaris Bank; Oluwatumininu Adesioye,Trustee WinCancer Foundation and Adaku S. Nwankwo, Digital PR Executive, Polaris Bank at the Inaugural WinCancer Games Event held at WhiteSands School Playing ground, Lekki Lagos to mark breast cancer month recently.
By Peace Udugba -The Daily Torch Media
Bank highlights support for screening, indigent patients at WinCancer Foundation’s inaugural Games
Polaris Bank Limited has reaffirmed its commitment to cancer awareness, early detection and patient support through its partnership with the WinCancer Foundation during the 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The bank demonstrated its commitment at the foundation’s inaugural WinCancer Games, held at the Whitesands School playground in Lagos, under the theme, “Awareness to Action.”
The event brought together participants and advocates to promote cancer education, encourage early medical attention and raise funds to support people affected by the disease.
Representing Polaris Bank, its Head of Brand Management and Corporate Communications, Rasheed Bolarinwa, said the bank’s social impact initiatives extended beyond financial services to addressing critical societal challenges and improving lives.
“At Polaris Bank, we believe that the true measure of an institution goes beyond financial performance. It is also reflected in the lives we touch, the communities we support and the positive impact we create in society,” Bolarinwa said.
He explained that the bank’s commitment to cancer advocacy and patient assistance spanned its legacy institutions and remained an integral part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Bank Supports Thousands of Women Through Cancer Screening
Through its longstanding partnership with Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E), a cancer-focused non-governmental organisation, Polaris Bank has supported breast cancer screening for more than 22,000 women.
The bank has also donated three breast cancer screening machines, including a mobile unit, sponsored treatment for more than 30 indigent cancer patients and provided support for survivors.
In 2026, it continued its interventions with initiatives targeting free breast cancer screening for 100 women and prostate cancer screening for 250 men aged 40 and above.
These efforts, according to the bank, underscore the importance of combining public awareness with access to screening, medical assistance and community education.
Bolarinwa commended the WinCancer Foundation for its efforts to promote cancer awareness and support people affected by the disease.
He stressed that meaningful progress required collaboration among corporate organisations, healthcare professionals, government institutions, advocacy groups, development partners and local communities.
He also highlighted the emotional, psychological and financial challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis, noting that patients and survivors needed more than medical treatment.
According to him, encouragement, dignity and reliable support are essential throughout the cancer journey.
He reiterated the bank’s commitment to strengthening community-focused interventions through partnerships that improve access to care and support vulnerable people.
Foundation Expands Support Beyond Breast Cancer
Founded by Olabisi Oladiran, a two-time breast cancer survivor, the WinCancer Foundation was established to address challenges faced by people affected by cancer through awareness, early detection advocacy and patient support.
Although initially focused on breast cancer, the foundation has expanded its advocacy to include ovarian, colon, blood and childhood cancers.
Its interventions include community education, food assistance for patients and their families, care packages containing essential medical supplies, and referrals to partner hospitals for testing and further medical assessment.
The foundation’s activities are designed to address both the practical and emotional difficulties associated with a cancer diagnosis while helping patients and their families access reliable information and appropriate care.
Speaking at the event, Oluwatumininu Adesioye, a trustee of the foundation, said the WinCancer Games was designed to move cancer advocacy beyond conversations and translate awareness into practical action.
She explained that the theme, “Awareness to Action,” encouraged people to seek appropriate medical advice, pay attention to changes in their bodies, discuss early detection with loved ones and support those undergoing treatment.
Adesioye said Oladiran’s personal experience with cancer diagnosis, treatment and the financial challenges associated with the disease inspired the foundation’s efforts to assist others facing similar difficulties.
She added that proceeds from the games, including ticket sales, donations and vendor participation, would help sustain the foundation’s patient support programmes.
Games Promote Cancer Awareness and Solidarity
The inaugural WinCancer Games featured sporting activities, community engagement and fundraising to promote cancer education and collective responsibility.
Four participating houses represented different cancer advocacy causes: Red House for blood cancers, Blue House for colon cancer, Teal House for ovarian cancer and Gold House for childhood cancer.
The activities highlighted the importance of solidarity, resilience and sustained support for people living with cancer, while encouraging participants to take responsibility for their health and help others access care.
As part of the awareness campaign, participants were encouraged to seek prompt medical attention when they noticed unusual bodily changes and consult qualified healthcare professionals about appropriate screening based on their age, medical history and individual risk factors.
For breast cancer, changes such as a new lump, alterations in breast size or shape, skin changes or unusual nipple discharge warrant medical evaluation, although such symptoms do not necessarily indicate cancer.
The bank and the foundation emphasised the importance of informed conversations, timely professional assessment and appropriate screening in promoting early detection.
Polaris Bank Reaffirms Commitment to Community Impact
Reiterating the importance of sustained corporate social responsibility, Bolarinwa said organisations should focus on initiatives capable of delivering meaningful and lasting benefits to society.
“At Polaris Bank, we believe that our greatest legacy is not simply what we have done, but the lives we continue to touch,” he said.
He encouraged individuals, families and communities to take cancer awareness seriously, seek appropriate medical advice and support people affected by the disease.
The bank also commended cancer survivors for their courage and resilience, healthcare professionals for their dedication, and advocacy organisations for their continued efforts to improve cancer awareness and patient support across Nigeria.
Through its participation in the WinCancer Games and its longstanding interventions, Polaris Bank reiterated that effective cancer advocacy requires more than awareness, stressing the need for practical action, compassion and sustained collaboration.
