Going around Durban to raise awareness

THE National Cancer Help is spreading the word as they travel around Durban communities raising awareness on cancer. Noting the lack of knowledge around cancer, Maureen van der Westhuizen, who is the CEO of the foundation, said she called for the duty to educate. In their campaign of raising awareness, Van der Westhuizen and her partner, Adam, set up their table in local malls, with Westville Mall being one of them. “This is so we can interact with as many people as possible and raise awareness and provide education and counselling,” said Van der Westhuizen.

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The National Cancer Help extends their help in making their education practical. Late last year, they started helping children who are less fortunate, who are suffering with cancer, by paying their medical bills where needed.
“Our main purpose is educating, counselling and awareness, and if there are funds available and a child needs desperate help, we help how we can and with what we can,” said Van der Westhuizen.
The couple said that what drives them is witnessing how their interaction with people has had an impact on certain individuals who have either escaped cancer or won a cancer battle. “When we interact with people, we ask them how often they go for a check-up, and we advise them when to go and refer them to the best places to do this.”

“We have had incidents such as when we encouraged a man to go for a prostate cancer check-up, and upon checking, he discovered that he was four or five months away from the cancer being aggressive. We were please to discover that he was saved through our awareness campaign. It is vital for people to know the important information so they can avoid so much suffering,” said Adam.

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Furthermore, the couple cares enough to update their information. “In 2022, we started PET Cancer Awareness as we realised that it is very aggressive, so as we educate and raise awareness, we believe more animals will be relieved of their suffering. A study shows that approximately 47% of dogs die of cancer over the age of 10 years and plus-minus 32% of cats die because of cancer, so there you have it,” they said.

The couple is currently helping a few patients. Emphasising that their patients’ particular details could not be divulged for the sake of their privacy, they said, “There is one boy with a rare skin cancer, and whenever he gets sunburnt, it can get cancerous, so we want to help with suntan lotion for now while he receives treatment from the government hospital.”

“A young girl needs an MRI as the government hospital can only help her next year. We help with funds available. Some of the children in the hospital need educational products like stationery and maybe toys to stimulate their minds while in hospital, having treatment,” she said.

They said the public can give donations or products to be used for that purpose. They are to contact Maureen at 081 879 1298 or the National Cancer Help at 067 229 3333.