e.tv joins fight against cancer

In an effort to raise awareness and much needed funds in the fight against cancer, e.tv has joined forces with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA)’s Relay For Life programme and Bokomo Weet-Bix. This partnership will see e.tv, CANSA and Bokomo Weet-Bix join forces to support 11 unique events around the country.

Relay For Life is recognised as the world’s largest global movement to fight the disease. Each year, volunteers in the various communities worldwide in 20 countries (including South Africa) gather to take part in this global movement. CANSA’s adoption of the Relay campaign was in 2005, when it recognised communities as strategic drivers to spread cancer awareness as well as spreading a message of hope to every South African family affected by cancer. Last year alone, CANSA hosted 79 events consisting of approximately 80 000 people in attendance.

“Our partnership with Weet-Bix and e.tv helps to increase awareness and will encourage more South African communities to participate and host Relay events. The more people participate and the more Relay events are hosted, the more funds are raised for our CANSA Care Centres where the respective Relay events are hosted. This allows CANSA to continue to provide a life-saving service to the community”, says CANSA CEO, Sue Janse van Rensburg.

Since cancer does not discriminate, through its involvement in the CANSA Relay For Life programme, e.tv hopes to spread a message of hope to a much broader audience which will include everyone from all walks of life regardless of their age, race and gender. A host of e.tv actors and presenters will pledge their support to the nationwide CANSA Relay For Life walks. Television personalities such as Club 808’s Dineo Ranaka, Rhythm City’s Tebogo Khalo (Puleng) and Amo Chidi (Reneilwe); Kaelo Stories of Hope presenter, Joel Zuma as well as Morena Sefatsa and Kriya Gangiah from Craz-e will all unite in spreading awareness and hope.

e.tv Head of Channel Division Monde Twala says, “Following our successful partnership with Weet-Bix with the Angel’s Walking campaign, the tremendous momentum gained at the 2011 event inspired the channel to broaden its reach beyond Johannesburg. We identified Relay For Life as the perfect catalyst to spread national awareness not only to big urban areas but also to the smallest and most remote communities..”

Corporate companies are invited to register their team of 10-15 co-workers, family, colleagues and/or friends, online at www.cansa-corporate-relay.co.za for a minimal fee of R2 500 per team for the Corporate Relay For Life taking place on the 1 September 2012 at the Denel Property Group in Irene, Pretoria. Community members are invited to also register their teams to the various CANSA Relay For Life events taking place countrywide, for a minimal fee of R500.

The campaign will kick off at the Glenwood Boys High School in Durban from 25 August 2012 at 18:00 to 06:00, on 26 August 2012 gaining momentum in various other hosting cities, namely, Polokwane in October 2012; Bloemfontein in November 2012; Mosselbay in November 2012; George in February 2013; East London in March 2013; Potchefstroom in February 2013; Upington in March 2013; Nelspruit in March 2013 and wrapping up in the Vaal Triangle in March 2013