Midrand congregants hit the streets in commemorations of Breast Cancer Month

"It is therefore important for every woman aged 40 and above to do a mammogram once in every two years,” said Dr. Sikakane.

November 4, 2022

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Yanga Nocuze and Sithandiwe Nocuze from Hope Restoration Ministries’ Victorious Women enjoy the Embrace Run event.

Over 100 women participated in the Embrace Run to mark World Mammography Day and commemorate Breast Cancer Month.

Mammography is celebrated every year on the third Friday of October, and the day serves as a reminder to all women, that the best defence is early detection. A mammogram can often detect a problem before there is any outward physical sign.

The 5km and 10km run and walk events were organised by Hope Restoration Ministries’ Victorious Women.

The women began from the church premises on 55 Richards Drive in Halfway House, towards the Waterfall area, past the mall and Waterfall Hospital and back to the church.

Thembeka Ncaba, Thobeka Myoli and Sibonile Dube embrace each other before the Embrace Run event.

The run, which kicked off at 05:45 on October 15, was marked by a series of activities which included a Breast Cancer Awareness talk with gynaecologist and women’s health advocate Dr Nhlanhla Sikakane, a prayer for those living with cancer and dancing to celebrate those who have overcome it.

She urged women to get into the habit of self-examining their breasts to check for early signs of breast cancer. “Early detection saves lives and breast cancer affects one in eight women and one in every 1000 men. Whilst it commonly affects women above the age of 40, breast cancer patients can be as young as the late teens to early 20s. It is therefore important for every woman aged 40 and above to do a mammogram once in every two years,” said Sikakane.

The church holds a series of runs where women can participate regularly to create awareness on various issues that touch on their general well-being. These include gender-based violence, women’s health and the flagship event on Women’s Day.

Embrace Run participants Thembeka Ncaba and Sibonile Dube paint Midrand pink.

Sibonile Dube from Hope Restoration’s Midrand campus said the runs are open to all women living in Midrand and the surrounding areas.

“As a church, we ensure we maintain a balance between spiritual, physical, social and emotional well-being. It is important for us to provide practical solutions to everyday life issues by creating awareness through impactful ways. Our series of Embrace Runs have done just that and we hope to continue touching the lives of our community members,” said Dube.

She said the series of runs was aptly named Embrace Run because they embrace femininity and women from all walks of life.