Members of the LGBTQI community hosted a testicular cancer awareness campaign at the People Like Us Pub and Venue on May 7.
The awareness campaign was initiated by Christiaan Visagie to create awareness about regular testicular cancer testing.
“This event is being held in partnership with Love Your Nuts, an NPO that offers testicular cancer education. Their ambassador, the former Mr Gay South Africa, Charl-Jaquairdo van Helsdingen, joined us today.
“He is a testicular cancer survivor and he will be educating people about testicular cancer.
“We want men to be educated about this form of cancer and to know that it can be treated if it is discovered early.
“We are also going to take this opportunity to advocate for the equality of LGBTQI members,” said Visagie.
Van Helsdingen said he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2018, but he didn’t let it deter him from living his life.
“I didn’t let testicular cancer stop me from doing what I love. I competed in the Mr Gay South Africa pageant the year after I was diagnosed.
“Cancer took a huge toll on my life. I had to adapt from being a strong person to being weak during chemo and radiation therapy.
“But I’m happy I managed to come out strong and now live my life to the full,” he said.
Dean ‘Dene Melrouch’ Sweeney, the Queen of the People Like Us Pub and Venue, graced the stage with a phenomenal performance.
“I decided to join the initiative because it was meaningful to me, as my grandfather died from testicular cancer.
“If an initiative like this one happens again I will be part of it,” said Sweeney.
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