Nine to climb Kilimanjaro for breast health

This announcement was made recently at a Hush Puppies Pink Shoe High Tea which took place in Sandton, and will see the One Step at a Time team, comprising survivors and health professionals, make the trek as a way to encourage early detection.

The Breast Health Foundation is a non-profit organisation focused on providing education and awareness on breast cancer and collaborated with international brand, Hush Puppies to host the high tea.

One of those taking the arduous journey is Marlene Wilson, a cancer survivor who is also blind, who expressed excitement at the daunting journey ahead. “It’ll definitely be a challenge, as is everything in life, but I embrace challenges and I look forward to taking part in this,” she said.

“The preparation has been hard, but it’s all about keeping fit and having fun – and that’s what we’ll be doing.”

Adding to this was radiologist, Dr Tebogo Hlabangana, who explained that participating in something of this magnitude was a privilege and one that couldn’t be missed. She also talked about the importance of playing a part in raising awareness, especially within the black community where detection often came late.

“Climbing Kilimanjaro is a step towards raising awareness and empowering women to know their body and for early detection, instead of waiting until it’s too late,” she said.

Her words were echoed by the other four women who were present, with all of them concluding by encouraging women of all ages to take simple steps to detect cancer at an early stage. They urged women not to take their bodies for granted and to be brave enough to face cancer and do something about it.

The journey to Kilimanjaro, which takes place annually, will begin on 22 October and will last a week.

Details: www.hushpuppies.co.za

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