Go pink for breast cancer awareness
In SA, October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The month-long campaign reflects a nationwide drive by public and private healthcare structures to raise awareness of this debilitating disease that doesn’t discriminate, affecting everyone across the social spectrum.
Here on the Sunshine Coast and in Makhanda, Grahamstown and Sunshine Coast Hospice will be the beneficiary of several fundraising drives during what has become known as “Pink October”.
Throughout October, the Bushmans Village #Pinkteam will decorate a Bushmans Village tree in pink for every donation received (see the main photo). Contact Christelle Miller at 083-417- 4260 for details of how to donate money for Hospice.
On Friday October 20 is the Annual Ladies Breast Cancer Lunch. From 12.30pm to 2pm at the Wyvern Club, Kingswood College, listen to guest speaker Sandy Coffey speak on ‘Mastering the art of ideation’. The 62-year-old professional photographer and life coach is ‘relentless in the pursuit of avoiding the mundane’. Lunch is sponsored by Bayradiology and GBS Mutual Bank. To book your seat, or a table, email cathy@cathybraanspr.co.za Seating is limited.
The next day, Saturday October
21, in Alexandria, the Alexandria Congregational Church will host a Walk for Cancer starting at 8am at the rugby field. The entry donation is R10 (children) and R20 for adults. There will be lucky draws, and worsrolletjies and cold drinks will be sold
afterwards.
Later on the same day starting at 3pm is Pink Rocktober at the Medolino Caravan Park in Port Alfred. The entrance fee of R100 (R40 for kids under 12) gets you live music from the Fords of Bebops fame, Joe
van der Linden and Anthony Caplan, big-screen rugby. Food trucks and a bar will be available throughout. Hint: wear pink!
A week later, Saturday October 27, sees Cupcakes for Cancer starring in Port Alfred (Rosehill SuperSpar) and Kenton (Sunshine Coast Spar) from 9am to 1pm.
On Tuesday October 31, Kenton Pilates is organising a 5km Breast Cancer Walk starting at 8am from the Middle Beach car park. The dress code is pink and you can make donations into The Pink Box, or by EFT into the Grahamstown and Sunshine Coast Hospice account (details directly from Hospice or on Kenton PilatesFacebook page).
Kenton Pilates is also challenging all businesses to join the Pink Drive by decorating their shops and office fronts in pink.
The incidence of breast cancer among South African women is increasing and it is one of the most common cancers among women. Facts about breast cancer: Early detection of the condition can lead to effective treatment and a positive prognosis. About 90% of patients survive for many years after diagnosis when breast cancer is detected at the early stages.
Regular self-breast examination and regular mammograms are key to early detection.
Presenting yourself early for treatment may result in more effective treatment, leading to a reduction in pain and suffering and a significant decrease in the loss of life.