Cansa’s Relay for Life needs your support

The annual West Rand Relay for Life, one of Cansa’s many initiatives, will be held on 17 October at Monument High School.

Relay for Life is a fundraising project that is held in 20 countries with South Africa as its third best participant.

The event runs from 6pm until 6am the next morning with 6pm symbolising the time when the cancer patient first finds out that he/she has cancer and his/her ‘sun sets’. As the race continues, midnight symbolises the darkest struggles such as chemotherapy until the sun rises again the next morning to symbolise the hope that support and organisations such as Cansa give the patients.

Relay for Life’s success depends on the participation of the public in the form of teams of between ten and 15 that enter the race.

Entrance for team members is R100 per person and R20 for non-participating spectators.

This year’s event’s theme is ‘The Circus of Life’.

There will be lots of live entertainment and food stalls throughout the night, and this year will see a theme park for children. Teams and their friends, family and supporters are welcome to camp out at the event.

The event traditionally is opened by a survivors VIP team that will open the race by doing the first lap. A dinner also will be held for the survivors.

Organisations such as churches and businesses are encouraged to enter and challenge each other, and to market themselves at the event.

“One out of four people is affected by cancer either directly or indirectly,” says West Rand Coordinator for Relay for Life, Zandri Schickerling.

“We encourage people not to wait until cancer affects them before they get involved, but to participate in this event right now.”

Last year saw the initiative raising R160 000 and the team hopes to better this.

Any person or organisation who wants more information or who wants to participate can contact Schickerling on 078 460 7337 or on 011 768 4342. Alternatively they can email her at zschickerling@cansa.org.za.