Bracelets at Tasha’s to both support Cansa and honour a special mom
MORNINGSIDE – Inspired by his mother's battle with the disease, George Betsakos, the owner of Tasha's in Morningside, raised funds for Cansa.
George Betsakos was 21 years old when his mother lost her battle with cancer, and now the Tasha’s cafe owner has found a way to honour her memory.
For this year’s Cancer Awareness Month, which is February, the owner of the cafe in Morningside decided to help raise funds for the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) by selling handmade bracelets from his restaurant.
“My mom was diagnosed with cancer when I was quite young,” Betsakos told the Fourways Review. “She developed breast cancer first, but then it spread [to other parts of her body] and after eight years of fighting we lost her. It’s a really [terrible] disease.”
This is the second year in a row that Betsakos has organised a Cansa drive. Last year, it was only his franchise that participated, but this year he reached out to other franchises in the hope that they would also join the cause.
“It’s about 10 Tasha’s that are taking part this year,” said Betsakos. “The bracelets that were for sale came in a multitude of colours, and each one cost R100. Diners were able to add the cost to their food bills here at Tasha’s, and if anyone was willing to donate more, they could talk to our managers about it.”
Although the total funds have not yet been added up, Betsakos estimated that his cafe had raised about R8 000 to R10 000 for Cansa.
Prabashni Reddy, a community mobiliser for the Cansa organisation, took the time to thank Betsakos for his efforts.
“George can rest assured that [the money] will be put to good use. Every rand counts [towards Cansa’s work],” said Reddy.
Cansa is a non-profit organisation that hopes to lead the fight against the disease in South Africa. They offer a multitude of services, including cancer screening procedures such as pap smears and prostate exams to people who would otherwise not have access to such services. They also offer support to those suffering from the disease and their loved ones and organise corporate wellness days.
“I was quite chuffed that George approached us with this idea for fundraising,” said Corrien Roro, also of Cansa. “I’m particularly glad that his actions were motivated by such personal reasons and that he found such a good way to give back to the community.”
If you would like to learn more about this disease or find out how you can help Cansa do important work, you can find more information on the Cansa website https://www.cansa.org.za/
