Gear up for Cansa Relay For Life

The Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) celebrates life at its Cansa Relay For Life, East Rand event taking place at Brakpan Rugby Club.

The event will take place from 18:00 to 06:00 on March 11 and 12.

Cansa Relay For Life is a team experience, taking place overnight that mobilises cancer survivors and the community to stand together in the fight against cancer.

It’s also an opportunity to remember loved ones that have passed away from cancer and to raise funds for the fight against cancer. The theme for this year is ‘Fighting Cancer Together.’

Corlita Eloff, chairperson of the Cansa Relay For Life, East Rand organising committee explains, “We are excited to be hosting a relay event. Covid-19 stopped us in 2020 and 2021 but it won’t stop us from fighting cancer. Teams of 10 – 15 people register to participate in the event. They set up team sites and take turns walking around a track. Because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to always have a representative on the track during the overnight event in an informal and fun way.”

Throughout the night, there is a host of entertainment. During the event, team members are free to socialise, picnic, play games, dance and participate in fun activities. Teams are required to pay a donation or commitment fee of R1 000 and commit to raising additional funds to help Cansa enable research and reduce the risk of cancer through education and health awareness while also providing care and support to those affected by cancer.

The commitment fee includes a ‘candle lighting’ bag with a candle and ribbon. Day visitors are welcome to attend at R50 for adults and children under 12 at R20.

Cancer survivors from the community are invited to attend where they will be celebrated and honoured through special ceremonies and activities, including an opening survivors’ lap.

This will be followed by a caregiver lap to recognise those who help cancer patients and loved ones in their journey.

Throughout the evening, many moments bring the community together to remember loved ones lost.

The candle lighting or luminaria ceremony lights up the night – candles are lit inside paper bags and are placed around the relay track as glowing tributes to remember and honour loved ones who have passed or who are still fighting the disease.

These candles remain lit throughout the event until the closing ceremony. Luminaria bags are sold before and at the Cansa Relay For Life event. Family members or friends can also decorate bags.

“At the heart of the relay is the opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors, remember those who have left us and create awareness about cancer. We invite everyone in the community to get involved,” concludes Eloff.

Funds raised are used to educate communities and provide care and support initiatives provided by Cansa. The service extends to helping people affected by cancer through education, tele-counselling, screening, promoting early detection, counselling, support groups, wigs, prostheses, medical equipment hire, home-based care and assistance with wound care and stoma clinics.

For more information, email or contact Cansa staff partner, Bianca van Eeden at 061 445 0771 or email bvaneeden@cansa.org.za or the volunteer event chairperson Corlita Eloff at 079 878 5031.

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