Caxton staff give views about the Selfie campaign

The Pink Drive initiative launched its first Mobile Mammography Unit in South Africa. According to the founder of the organisation Noelene Kotschan, the initiative does not receive any funding from the government and the organisation needs to raise awareness for the cause. Kotschan started a campaign awareness the Selfie, to challenge South Africans to be bold and take their pictures without any make-up.

She explained that, “The Selfie Initiative did not start in South Africa. It was started in the UK by a young 18 year old, who was inspired to raise money after her fiancé’s grandmother died of breast cancer and several members of her family were affected by the disease. She came up with the idea of a bare-faced selfie after reading about the actress and cancer survivor Kim Novak being mocked for appearing at the Oscars without make-up”.

“On Human Rights day, while surfing my Facebook page, I decided to pick up on this and challenge South Africans to be bold and unmask with a “no make-up selfie” post,” explained Kotschan. According to the founder, the challenge was taken up by men as well “wanting to add their support, by participating in a ‘makeupselfie’, and support either the women in South Africa, or via our male campaign donate to ‘More Balls Than Most’, which focuses on educating men on Prostate and Testicular Cancer”.

The Roodepoort Northsider asked some of the staff members at the Caxton North West branch, how do they feel about the No-Make up selfie, posts which are circulated on the social network Facebook.

Northcliff Melville Times reporter Zakiya Mckenzie explained that she supports the initiative and thinks that the Mobile Mammography Unit is very important.

Randburg Sun reporter Boitumelo Mmakou said, “I think it’s for a good cause and it inspired me when I saw two of my friends who posted their ‘selfies’ on facebook.

Randburg Sun reporter Ancillar Mangena said, “I don’t know why they do not cut their hair or do something a little more drastic as it seems to easy to just pose for a photo without any make-up on.”

Roodepoort Northsider reporter Belinda Pheto explained that it is beautiful to see woman being natural without make-up.

Roodepoort Northsider sales rep Soyenne de Beer agreed that it is for a good cause but added that facebookers need to remember to sms “PINKDRIVE” to 40158 to donate R20 for the initiative.