Media Release: The Sky is NOT The Limit
21July 2014: CANSA is hosting its fourth Relay For Life Corporate event on 20 & 21 September at Denel’s Irene Campus Corporate Office and invites Corporate South Africa to take part in the fight against cancer.
CANSA Relay For Life is a fun-filled, overnight event (symbolising a cancer patient’s journey) that mobilises cancer survivors, caregivers as well as companies and business to show their support by committing to fight back and really make a difference. Read more about Relay For Life
“Our theme for 2014 is ‘The sky is NOT the Limit’, allowing teams to be creative, imagining a world without cancer –by showing support for work colleagues living with cancer,” says Elise Fourie, Chairperson of the volunteer organising committee.
Corporate teams take turns walking a track from 4pm to 6am the following morning to fight cancer while building team spirit and corporate networking. Participants enjoy camping-out, entertainment, good food, games and team building. Click here for more about the CANSA Relay For Life Corporate
Celebrating cancer survivors
“This experience is all about celebrating cancer survivors (anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer), remembering loved ones that have passed away, educating about cancer while raising money for the fight against cancer,” she adds.
Having overcome thyroid cancer herself, she says the Relay event gives hope to survivors, especially in the workplace. “They don’t feel alone and they see there are many others with similar challenges. We support and encourage each other. There’s a positive vibe that helps to improve health and overcome challenges.” Read how CANSA Relay For Life Corporate celebrates life with cancer Survivors and Caregivers
Special ceremonies
Part of the experience involves health education activities about ways to reduce cancer. A highlight is the Survivors Lap – all cancer survivors walk the celebratory lap around the track, rejoicing in their victory over cancer while cheered on by the other participants who line the track. Caregivers join the Survivors for a 2nd lap. This lap gives honour to those people who give time, love, and support to their friends, family, neighbours and co-workers facing cancer.
Fourie explains, “Another important highlight of the Relay event is the ‘Luminaria’ or candle lighting ceremony. Candles are lit inside paper bags and are placed around the Relay track as glowing tributes to those who have been affected by cancer. These candles remain lit throughout Relay For Life until the closing ceremony.”
Bringing survivors and their work colleagues together
The Relay event is an important platform to help both employees and employers get information and help deal with the challenges of overcoming a cancer diagnosis.
“Your life in the company or workplace environment is made easier if both you and work colleagues know as much as possible about cancer. Cancer is not going to go away but we can find ways of making the life of a survivor a lot easier at work. Together corporates and organisations such as CANSA can achieve this,” Elise says.
Her diagnosis and subsequent recovery from cancer has led her to have more fun and build more special moments into her life. “I am still a workaholic, but I now purposefully create memories. When people reach the point where their lives appear to be coming to an end, they don’t think about their jobs or their material possessions, they treasure those special times they shared with others.”
Enter a team and get involved
Companies are encouraged to enter teams to participate and help fulfil their social responsibility. CANSA is a level four B-BBEE contributor. Register before end July at the early bird team fee of R2 200 (includes 15 Luminaria bags) – teams comprise of 10 to 15 members with proceeds to CANSA. Click here to register a team.
How your donation helps CANSA
All funds raised are allocated to CANSA’s unique integrated service to the public and all people affected by cancer. As a leading role-player in cancer research (more than R6 million spent annually), the scientific findings and knowledge gained from research is used to realign health programmes as well as strengthen the watchdog role to the greater benefit of the public.
CANSA’s wide-reaching health programme comprises prevention and education campaigns; over 30 CANSA Care Centres that offer stoma support and organisational management; medical equipment hire; a toll-free line and support to those affected by cancer; patient care and support in the form of 11 CANSA Care Homes in the main metropolitan areas for out-of-town cancer patients plus one hospitium based in Polokwane, as well as CANSA-TLC lodging for parents and guardians of children undergoing cancer treatment.
For more info visit www.cansa.org.za or contact CANSA toll-free 0800 22 66 22 or email: info@cansa.org.za. Follow CANSA on Twitter and join CANSA on Facebook and on Pinterest.
(For more information, contact Lucy Balona, CANSA’s Head: Marketing and Communication via email: lbalona@cansa.org.za, call 011 616 7662 or cell: 082 459 5230).
