Watch: A Cansa relay to remember
East Randers came out in their numbers for the annual Cansa Relay for Life held at the Boksburg City Stadium, on March 10 and 11.
The crowd was filled with emotion. There were tears of sadness, tears of joy, happiness, excitement and an abundance of love.
The Cansa relay provides the opportunity to celebrate and support cancer survivors, to remember those who have died from cancer and to create awareness about the disease and fight back.
The programme was loaded with fun and entertainment to keep the energy high and the spirit going for 12 hours, from 6pm to 6am.
Afrikaans singer Elizma Theron, The Marimba Band and the East Rand Youth Choir were just a few of the performers at the event.
The event was attended by approximately 3 000 people (more than last year), 80 teams and 135 survivors.
The relay opened with the stirring Survivor’s Lap of Honour, led by the Gold Rand Harley Owners Group and Benoni High School Pipe Band.
Burning candles in luminaria bags circled the track.
By Tuesday afternoon (March 14) the money raised by the association was in the region of R523 000 and counting.
The money raised will fund services, including prevention and awareness campaigns, patient care and support in the form of Cansa Interim Homes in the main metropolitan areas, including one hospitium (based in Polokwane) for out-of-town cancer patients, support centres that offer stoma and lymphoedema clinics, medical equipment hire, toll-free line and support to children and their families affected by cancer through the Cansa TLC programme.
The public has until the end of March to contribute to the association.
Ayanda Ngcofe, community mobiliser fund-raising developer, thanked each and every one who made the Cansa Relay for Life Eastern Gauteng 2017 a great experience.
“I am totally overwhelmed and blown away by the public support. We’ve received messages from the community that they are already excited for next year’s relay,” said Ngofe.
“I am absolutely grateful to the public for giving Cansa the opportunity to raise awareness and the corporate sponsors that enabled us to even getting us to the point of hosting this event.
“We look forward to making bigger waves for remembering those who lost the battle to cancer, celebrating those who are still surviving through it and together fighting against cancer.”
GALLERY
East Rand Cansa Relay for Life 2017 in pictures
