The John E. Sabga Foundation is a non-profit foundation started in Trinidad and Tobago. The Foundation honors John Edmond Sabga who died at the age of 56 in January 2017 after a valiant 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer. John was a well-loved and popular person and was known to many through his years in the restaurant industry – starting in the late 1980s in Los Angeles (AL AMIR LEBANESE Rest) where he spent 20 years and to his return home to Trinidad where he forayed back into the restaurant business again with Trotters Sports Bar and Buzo Italian. His love for Vineyard Vines clothing earned him the nickname “the Whale.”
The Foundation’s main goal is to bring awareness of this dreaded disease to the population of their island, and to educate their doctors and medical fraternity on the latest advancements in pancreatic cancer. They do so by bringing world-renowned experts to Trinidad for their annual “Distinguished Lecture Series.” Another important mission of the John E. Sabga Foundation is raising money for research into a cure and early detection test. To date, they have sent over $650,000 USD to various doctors and research facilities in the USA to aid in these efforts.
Next 16-18 March 2023, they will be hosting a Pancreatic Cancer Symposium in Trinidad, along with their 2nd HOPE GALA in collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin’s LeBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, headed by Dr. Douglas Evans. They expect o have at least five world authorities on this disease speak at the symposium. They would love to have some representation from members of the WPCC to join them in supporting their global effort as a Coalition in fighting pancreatic cancer.
The John E. Sabga Foundation also offers navigation assistance and support to anyone in need of advice as well as advocates for patients with nurses, doctors, and healthcare professionals to speed up appointments and critical care. Trinidad is a third-world country that offers free medical services through their national healthcare system, and this can pose many challenges at times for under-privileged citizens. They are currently petitioning the Ministry of Health to add ABRAXANE and LYNPARZA to their national formulary, making these essential drugs available to their citizens in their fight against pancreatic cancer.
The John E. Sabga Foundation (JESFOUNDATION) is committed in its mission to bring HOPE to future generations. They are proud to be part of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition.
To learn more about the John E. Sabga Foundation, visit their website.
