Cansa Relay for Life raises R500k
Hundreds of people braved the rain to take part in the annual Cansa Relay for Life held at Jan Smuts Stadium last Saturday evening in honour of those affected by cancer.
More than R500,000 was raised.
According to community mobiliser of fund development Michelle Goddard, 187 teams had registered as of Friday last week.
“There was no way we’d have been able to postpone the relay because of the rain, and people were still registering at the last minute to take part,” Goddard said.
The heavy rains didn’t deter the crowd as many people had their ponchos and umbrellas ready to walk for survivors, those who are still fighting, and those who have passed on.
One of the relay’s key components – the luminaria ceremony – took place on the grand stand rather than the track as previously due to the rain.
“The luminaria ceremony takes place where a moment of silence is observed for those who have left us. These candles communicate that you’ll always be in our hearts,” said East London Relay for Life chair Wayne Wayer.
Candles on the grand stand spelt out the word “Hope” while the whole track came to a standstill to honour and remember loved ones.
The walk symbolises that cancer is a disease that never stops, and as such the relay carries on all night.