Survivors testify to the power of Cansa Relay for Life

At the heart of the relay is the opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors, to remember those who have died and to create awareness about cancer.

Nicolette Dick (four-time cancer survivor): My mom lost her fight with breast cancer, while I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998.

The cancer came back four times and I recently lost my second breast. The Cansa Relay for Life took on a new and deeper meaning every time I attended and walked the track.

Hope was definitely what I felt. The Relay for Life means everything. I am relaying because of all the loved ones I have known who have battled cancer (and some have lost that battle). I walked the track, head held high, tears streaming.

I walked for others, I walked for hope, I walked for a cure – that track has power! It brings people together, and we are all on common ground with one goal in mind – to put an end to cancer. Relay is a night of fun, love, memories, sadness, games, encouragement, a true gamut of emotion.

That’s what relay means to me … hope!

Joy Mulligan (two-time cancer survivor): People who are not affected or have never gone through losing a family member to cancer will never know the true meaning of a Cancer Relay for Life.

To me it symbolises that I have triumphed over cancer. I know the journey and have lost my mom and close family members to cancer. I can bring hope to those who are still on this journey, and I salute those who have lost the battle to cancer.

Sherine Kock (three-time cancer survivor): The Cancer Relay to me is one of the highlights in our family’s lives. My husband, children and grandchildren all participate to support me as a three-time cancer survivor, through God’s grace.

It also means a lot to me because, as a survivor, you are going through pain at night and when you go to the doctor in the morning he tells you that you are in remission.

I feel very honoured because I was part of the Twinsavers Campaign fund-raising last year for Cansa. I was also one of the five ambassadors for them – that was the most amazing part of it.

Fanie Britz (cancer survivor): Jy vra waarom ek aan die Kanker “Relay” deelneem? Kanker is seker dié siekte wat wat die meeste mense rondom die kanker lyer aanraak en hul lewe totaal verander, Dit is ’n ongenadiglike siekte wat paie pyn en lyding veroorsaak, en soms oor ’n baie lang tydperk strek ook. Ek vind dat baie mense aan die “dit gebeur net met ander mense” sindroom ly.

Daarom is bewusmaking oor kanker onder die publiek baie noodsaaklik. Ek self is genadiglik deur kanker en het ook my vrou verloor na sy ’n absolute lyding van bykans vyftien jaar moes deurgaan.

Vir die omstanders is dit net so moeilik want die pasient moet natuuurlik ligaamlik en ook geestelik permanente sorg kry. Deur aan hierdie “relay” deel te neem, word die familie en vriende van die lyer ondersteun en ook simpatie en herinneringe aan hulle wat reeds geliefdes verloor het aan kanker, te betoon.

Dit is ook ’n bewusmaking van kanker en dit wat rondom dit aangaan, soos fonds insameling, navorsing en dies meer, vir die breër publiek.

Ek geniet die mooi atmosfeer en kameradie wat onder die deelnemers heers. Dit help beslis om oor die hartseer en depressie ook te kom.

Ek voel dat meer mense aan hierdie byeenkomste moet deelneem, nie noodwendig net “survivors” en naasbestaandes nie, maar alle mense om ondersteuning te bied, en deelneem aan die mooi atmosfeer wat altyd daar heers.

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