PORT-OF-SPAIN, Jan 11: West Indies batting ace Brian Lara, who lost his mother to cancer, launched a Cancer Treatment Centre in his name here. He said it was a bittersweet day for him, as occasion reminded him of passing of his parents Bunty and Pearl Lara.

“What a bittersweet moment for me. As Trinidad and Tobago is about to inherit first state-of-art cancer treatment centre it also brings back to me memories of my loving parents,” Lara said.

“My dad passed away in 1989 of a heart attack, another concern for all in medical field, and also my mom who passed away in 2002, and that is definitely something that has alliance to this as she died of cancer.”

Lara said, though saddened by memories, deep down inside he was smiling. “I finally felt it was time her suffering had stopped and she had now gone to better things. Pearl battled cancer for ten years.”

Lara said one of reasons he accepted invitation from Medcorps Group, which comprises a number of health providers in T&T, to append his name to the centre was that it would cater to all, including needy who can't afford treatment.

“I wish it was 10 to 15 years ago. But today onwards, we can boast of having a state-of-art cancer centre that is going to be for very rich to very poor. That is definitely something I want to put my name to. It is a great honour.”—Agencies