“Cancer is not a death sentence”

Elizabeth Bezuidenhout: Global Hero of Hope 2020

Elizabeth Bezuidenhout – Many of my family members had cancer and at CANSA Relay For Life we had the opportunity to honour and remember them. As a caregiver for many of them, I always wanted to make them feel that they are not alone and Relay For Life offered them that. It also creates the opportunity to raise funds for cancer awareness and education.

In 2008 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and this motivated me to become part of CANSA Relay For Life Springbok where I became the Survivorship Chair and for the last seven years have been involved in various sub-committees including team recruitment, luminaria, and mission delivery.

CANSA Relay For Life is a celebration of life and therefore spreads the message that cancer isn’t a death sentence and brings communities together.

I assist my local CANSA Care Centre by giving talks at schools and churches to create cancer awareness and education about early detection. I visit patients to show them support by sharing my personal journey with them and am involved with various other CANSA fundraising projects to enable CANSA to continue their service in my community.

CANSA Relay For Life has brought the Namaqua communities together and I am proud to be part of the growth and care for each other through this event.

My local CANSA Care Centre has supported me through regular visits and calls, and they shared vital information with me to understand my treatment. They gave extra support to my husband to help him cope and taught him how to be my caregiver and offered my other family members emotional support too.

CANSA Relay For Life gave me the motivation to carry on when I was diagnosed. I saw how the survivors at the event appreciated the recognition and care. It was easier to cope with my cancer by talking to other survivors and sharing stories. Being on the committee helps me celebrate my own and other survivors’ lives and I know that I make a difference in their lives.