Cansa celebrates 90 years of service
To host an event, register and order Shavathon products through the Shavathon eShop.
The year 2021 promises to offer much excitement as the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) celebrates 90 years of service.
Shavathon events, for the first time, are spread out from February 27 to March 27 to ensure the necessary Covid-19 safety regulations are in place.
Maria Scholtz, Cansa’s head of sustainability, elaborates, “We’ve decided to do things differently this year. Annually, we have one weekend at the end of February where Shavathon events take place countrywide at shopping centres and the week thereafter, Shavathon events are hosted in places like workplaces or schools.
“However, we’re mindful of the safety of the public and need to ensure that we adhere to safety protocols. The aim is to have various smaller-controlled Shavathon events starting from February 27 to March 27.
“We also offer cashless options such as Snapscan, Zapper, MTN MoMo Wallet and online donations can be made on shavathon.org.za with the ‘Bail Out’ fee. Supporters can view the event directory on the Shavathon website for details.”
Cansa Shavathon events will be hosted in innovative and creative ways this year – with a drive-thru, Shavathon-in-a-box and virtual Shavathon options to ensure everyone can still be a part of this inspiring fund-raiser campaign. Hosts are encouraged to challenge nine or 19 potential hosts to organise a Shavathon event in honour of Cansa’s 90th anniversary.
“The theme for Cansa’s 2021 Shavathon is ‘Colours Speak Louder than Words’ – we’re still caring for cancer patients and loved ones despite Covid-19 and we invite the public to show they care too by participating or donating to raise sufficient funds for us to continue to do so.
“During the lockdown, our homes and stoma services are open as essential services with protective measures while the public hospitals are open and receiving patients. Cansa Care Homes provides patients receiving cancer treatment with accommodation, transport and meals.
“Cansa’s TLC Lodges for children and families affected by cancer also remained operating. We offer support via our WhatsApp line that helps with cancer education, queries and support in isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho and siSwati on 071 867 3580 and support via phone and online platforms,” Scholtz continues.
Cansa also offers confidential, professional, cancer-related telephonic counselling to cancer patients, caregivers and their families and parents or guardians of children living with cancer. Counselling is available in seven languages, English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Sesotho and Setswana, and is free of charge.
Adults pay R50 and children under 12 pay R25 to spray or shave their hair or donate a ponytail to make a wig for a cancer patient. Digital selfie boards will also be available to help create awareness and the public is encouraged to share their photos on social media using the hashtag #CANSAShavathon and #CANSA90.
To host an event, register and order Shavathon products through the Shavathon eShop. Anyone can host an event as it is not limited to workplaces, organisations or schools. The deadline for registration and orders is March 1, 2021.
“Online fund-raising activists can sign up on the Shavathon website and can challenge their family, friends and colleagues to support their fund-raising efforts. How about raising R900 or R9 000? We invite corporates to take up the online fund-raising challenge with many employees still working virtually,” Scholtz concludes.
Also Read: A colour of hope at Cansa’s annual Shavathon
Also Read: Cansa’s annual Relay for Life boosted with extra action packed activites
