Golden opportunity to raise cancer awareness
CHOC, in association with various modelling agencies, will be hosting a fundraising event at Hillcrest High School in search of their new youth ambassadors.
A startling figure of up to five children a day die of cancer at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. This is according to Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa‘s (CHOC) regional assistant, Nita Julius.
“We have been looking at these numbers and the possible causes. A lot of the children come from the same areas – it could be the soil or food, or some other factor. We have cases where children coming in from one area of the same age group with the same type of cancer,” Julius explained.
With the aim of raising child cancer awareness, CHOC, in association with various modelling agencies, will be hosting a fundraising event at Hillcrest High School in search of their new youth ambassadors.
Pageant contest participants between the ages of six and 21 stand a chance of walking away with a modelling scholarship and/or the grand title of being Mr or Miss Go For Gold 2015. Entry is R200. Participants will receive modelling sponsorships, and whoever raises the most funds will be awarded the special prize of being a debutante.
Werda Skool’s Grade 8 learner, Nicole Klopper, is currently in the running for the competition and together with the help of her school has raised R1 000 for CHOC.
For her zest and hard work she has been awarded a scholarship with La Bella Models for modelling. The 14-year-old pupil’s school assisted her by hosting a civvies day to raise money.
She holds the charity close to her heart due to the fact that she lost two close family members to cancer. “My mom had cancer, and so I thought every little bit of help can make a difference, and everyone in life deserves a second chance. We just want to be there for them (children with cancer), love and show them support and that they are not alone,” said Klopper.
She said that she hopes to be a pilot in the future, to explore the world and use half of her earnings to start a foundation to help teenagers who have had a rough start in life, “And, of course, like every other girl, I would like to become Miss World.”
CHOC was founded in 1979 to create awareness for children with cancer. It now operates nationally and has 10 CHOC Houses and three CHOC Lodges.
CHOC attaches itself to tertiary hospitals that have treatment facilities for childhood cancer. Most of its beneficiaries are disadvantaged and live in the deep rural areas, with no access to treatment, have severe financial constraints and live in extreme poverty. Donations help the CHOC lodge cater for 26 patients at a time. With the children being in hospital, mothers are able to spend most of the day at the hospital knowing that they just have to walk up to the lodge for meals and a bed at night.
The Go For Gold Pageant and family day will be held on Saturday, 26 September. It will start at 11am and finish at 5pm, hosted in the Hillcrest High School Hall. There will also be a tea garden.
If you would like to make a donation, be it cash, groceries, clothing (new or good second-hand for ladies, babies and boys and girls up to the ages of 15), linen, stationery or toys, contact the CHOC offices on 086 111 2182, visit www.choc.org.za or e-mail coordinatorkzn@choc.org.za.
