Global Hero of Hope Sonia Katzenberg’s pledge
While diagnoses continue to be heard, so must the Relay continue as an important way of our FIGHT BACK! for as long as it takes!
For Sonia walking from sunset till sunrise with her high school students for the past 3 years, has annually been the highlight of her year. Her life as a child, and from then on, has been plagued by cancer – losing her own mother to this disease. Her own diagnosis – and the subsequent surcharge on her life insurance (a loud and clear message that she was expected to die, statistically-speaking…) made her value and feel EACH BREATH each DAY, and never take for granted the sunshine in the smile of her grand-child, Matthew.
As a mentor, teacher and community member she recognises the importance of CANSA’s role in research, education and support to stop this disease that is wreaking havoc. For her it is time to make sure that we speak openly and factually about cancer and how to avoid it by making better lifestyle choices from a young age.
Her dream to have this amazing event hosted at her school became reality, when she convinced the school to host their first CANSA Relay For Life Leeuwenhof Academy Event this year. She is aware and grateful to be a teacher, she can see cancer awareness as an integral part of her calling and responsibility. In her own words: “Perhaps that is one of the reasons I once was diagnosed… Always a purpose!”