Lady bikers ride in bid to beat cancer
HE ANNUAL Cancer.vive charity motorbike ride gets underway in South Africa later this month, geared at educating and raising awareness on the “shy” cancers in rural communities and small towns.
It’s a little known fact that globally, more people die from cancer than HIV, TB and malaria combined, and although not all cancers can be prevented, healthy lifestyle choices and early detection is key in lowering the risk. About one-third of cancers can be prevented and treated if detected early.
This annual ride sees cancer survivors taking to the open road on motorbikes to rural communities and small towns to raise awareness, and the team hopes to reach at least 30 000 people through their message of hope and survival.
More than 50 participants, half of them cancer survivors, make up the entourage. Lillian Dube and Janie du Plessis are two well-known South Africans who will also be part of the
Tride again this year. Most of the riders are women. Cancer.vive’s education drive targets the early detection and treatment of all cancers, but specifically focusses on those cancers which, due to social or cultural stigmas, people are hesitant to talk about. The so-called shy cancers include breast, ovarian, testicular, prostate and colo-rectal cancer.
The ride kicks off on September 22 in Joburg and ends on September 28.
Last year’s ride saw the Cancer.vive team making their way from Johannesburg to Cape Town and covering a distance of about 2 400 kilometres. This year the team will travel through Gauteng and Mpumalanga, stopping in among others Soweto, Witbank, Sabie, Nelspruit and Mantongomane.
The entourage’s motorcycles are supplied by Triumph, and vehicle support is courtesy of Imperial Ford & Mazda, with Caltex the fuel sponsor.
Show your support for this inspiring initiative by liking Cancer.vive on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. Visit www.cancervive.co.za for info.