The Cansa Relay for Life event took place in Brakpan on Saturday, with survivors, caretakers and supporters remembering those lost to cancer, and celebrating those who have survived the disease.
From 18:00 on Saturday till 06:00 on Sunday, participants walked or ran around the field of the Brakpan Rugby Club, representing teams non-stop.
There were more than 100 people at the event and each team paid an entry fee and committed to raising more funds throughout the night. There were stalls selling food, drink and goods aiming to raise more funds for cancer research and patient support.
Later in the evening, during load-shedding, the Luminaria ceremony was held, where bags with photos of lost loved ones around the track were lit.
The candles inside were lit at different times, each time for lost friends, parents, siblings, grandparents or other family members. After all the bags had been lit, participants walked around the field carrying the Luminaria lanterns in a lap of remembrance.
At the event, a 10-year-old girl was announced to be the youngest survivor. The young warrior, whose mother was unavailable for comment, survived a brain tumour and was at the event with the Geluksdal Cancer Support Group.
Another survivor, Adeleigh Carter (62), has fought cervical lymph cancer, colon cancer and thyroid cancer. She has had eight surgeries and is currently fighting head and neck cancer. Adeleigh is also from Geluksdal.
Her fighting spirit is strong, though, and as with the other three, she is determined to beat this cancer as well. Her daughter and primary caretaker, Natalie Carter, said she can’t imagine nor will she ever understand what her mother goes through every day.
“Cancer has taken a lot from my mom, but I don’t know a stronger person that God could have given all these battles to,” she said.
Throughout the night there was music, and at times live entertainment.”
Thirteen-year-old Luca-Leigh Nieuwoudt entertained the crowd during the dark hours of load-shedding with her powerful voice and masterful singing technique.
Some of the participants in the relay came to put in their all for cancer survivors, and Ramotsiedi Letsoalo could be seen in red running around the track for most of the night.
Though the event only requires walking, several others were also seen running occasionally, and their enthusiasm was infectious, spurring children to join them.
