Princess Walk raises US$10,000 for Breast Cancer Awareness

AIRPORT--Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) raised US$10,000 for breast cancer awareness through its third annual Princess Walk on Sunday morning, more than doubling the amount collected during last year's event. The funds, generated through the sale of official Princess Walk T-shirts, will support the Elektralyets Foundation and Positive Foundation in their continued efforts to promote breast cancer awareness, education and early detection while helping make screening opportunities more accessible to women in St. Maarten.

The airport once again opened its doors and runway to the community for the event, which attracted an even larger turnout than last year. Participants began gathering at the terminal as early as 4:00 a.m. before being transported airside for the walk along the airport runway.

This year's event was held under the theme "Crown Yourself with Courage – Lace Up, Step Up, Check Up!", reinforcing the importance of taking an active role in one's health and encouraging women throughout the community to prioritize regular breast cancer screening.

The message of the day remained simple but important: Ladies, get checked. Early detection saves lives. Through initiatives such as the Princess Walk and the funds raised by the community, more women can be given access to potentially life-saving screenings.

PJIA Chief Executive Officer Michael Cleaver, who joined participants from 4:00 a.m. and walked alongside them, highlighted the importance of the initiative and the airport's continued commitment to supporting the community.

"The Princess Walk is about more than walking our runway; it is about awareness, prevention and helping create greater access to early detection. I am proud of our PJIA team for once again coming together across departments to make this event possible and for opening our airport to the community. Giving back is part of who we are at PJIA, and we remain committed to supporting initiatives that can make a real difference in people's lives."

Support for the Princess Walk was visible throughout the airport, with departments across PJIA contributing in their own way to the event. The Rescue and Firefighting Services team illuminated its fire trucks in pink, while the Electrical team transformed the runway lighting with pink accents in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

These efforts reflected the collective spirit behind the Princess Walk and demonstrated how teams across the airport came together to support the cause.

Employees from multiple departments worked together behind the scenes and throughout the early morning hours to safely coordinate the event, support participants and once again open the airport's doors and runway to the public. From Operations and Security to Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services, Electrical and supporting teams across the organization, each department played a role in making the morning possible.

PJIA extended its appreciation to the entire airport team for their commitment and teamwork, as well as to the Elektralyets Foundation and Positive Foundation for their continued dedication to breast cancer awareness and early detection in St. Maarten.

The airport also recognized the valuable support of this year's sponsors, Menzies Aviation, Swiss Canonica, Subway and Avis Budget, whose contributions helped make the event possible.

For PJIA, the Princess Walk represents more than an annual event. The airport belongs to the people of St. Maarten, and the pride employees take in welcoming the community onto the runway reflects that connection. Giving back to the community is part of PJIA's identity, and the airport remains committed to using its platform to support initiatives that positively impact the island.

PJIA thanked every participant who woke up early, purchased a shirt, walked the runway, supported a loved one and helped spread the message of early detection.

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