From Every Step to Every Bed: Pietermaritzburg Community Invited to Help Build Hope at CANSA Relay For Life 2026
Every lap walked, every team entered and every candle lit at this year’s CANSA Relay For Life Pietermaritzburg, will help write another chapter of hope for people affected by cancer in KwaZulu-Natal.
As the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) celebrates its 95th anniversary of serving South Africans, the organisation is calling on the Pietermaritzburg community to come together for an unforgettable day of celebration, remembrance and action at CANSA Relay For Life, Pietermaritzburg, taking place on1 August 2026, from 12:00 until midnight, at TPA Primary School, Northdale.
More than a fundraising event, Relay For Life is a community movement where cancer survivors, caregivers, families, schools, businesses and friends unite with one message: ‘no one should face cancer alone’.
This year’s event is particularly significant for KwaZulu-Natal, as funds raised will support CANSA’s vital care and support services, including the exciting development of a new CANSA Care Home that will provide accommodation and support for cancer patients travelling for treatment, often far from their families and communities.
Leader Volunteer and Event Chair, Sherwin Pillay, believes the event demonstrates the power of ordinary people creating extraordinary change.
“Relay For Life reminds us that hope is strongest when a community stands together. Every team that registers and every person who walks with us becomes part of someone’s cancer experience. This year, as CANSA celebrates 95 years of service, we have an opportunity to leave a legacy by helping ensure that patients in KwaZulu-Natal have access to the care and support they deserve.”
One of the most emotional moments of the day will be the Survivors’ Lap,, where those who have faced cancer are celebrated for their courage and resilience. They are followed by the Caregivers’ Lap, honouring the family members and friends who walk every step alongside their loved ones.
As evening approaches, the event will pause for the moving Luminaria Ceremony, where tribute bags illuminated by candlelight create a powerful display of remembrance for those lost to cancer and hope for those still fighting the disease.
Relay For Life is built around community teams, and organisers are encouraging families, schools, churches, sports clubs and workplaces to register and participate. Whether walking, volunteering, sponsoring or simply attending, every contribution helps CANSA continue providing education, education, cancer screening and early detection programmes, tele counselling, support groups and patient care services throughout the province. education, screening
The event will also feature live music, dance performances, local performers and vendors, creating a festival atmosphere while supporting a cause that touches nearly every family.
Admission is R50 per person, and the community is encouraged to bring friends and family to experience an event that celebrates life while making a tangible difference.
“Cancer affects all of us in some way,” adds Pillay. *”Relay For Life is where grief becomes hope, strangers become teammates, and a community becomes a force for change. We invite Pietermaritzburg to rise together against cancer and join us.”
For more information or to register a team, contact: CANSA Staff Partner: Jessica Gird on jgird@cansa.org.za. Visit www.relayforlife.org.za for more info.
