Bedfordview’s Elandspark School has challenged other schools in the area to raise money for cancer awareness.
This comes after the school raised R6 300 for Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC) during a bandana ceremony at the school.
The initiative to raise funds was the brainchild of Mrs Hettie van Niekerk, one of the school’s vocational training teachers and a cancer patient.
According to marketing officer Ms Louise Duvenhage, the school has been affected by the disease.
“Within the school we have lost people to cancer, we also have cancer survivors, teachers still battling the disease as well as those in remission,” said Ms Duvenhage.
On the day, “tree bandanas” were sold for R20 each and were tied on trees around the school.
One of the teachers, Mr Andre Bosch, challenged everyone to buy tree bandanas, promising to shave off his facial hair should the funds reach the R2 000 mark. Mr Bosch’s daughter, Linda, lost her battle with cancer in 2012.
The school also paid tribute to Mr Deon Botha, who succumbed to the disease in August 2014.
Ms Duvenhage said the school will continue to support the cure for cancer initiative.
“We hope it will become an annual event as it provides the opportunity to pay tribute to the ones who lost the fight against cancer and those still fighting,” she said.
“We would like to challenge all other schools in the community to better our contribution. Together we will be able to make a change, give comfort or even just contribute some hope to cancer patients who need it the most. Let’s stand together and make a difference,” said Ms Duvenhage.
