Running cancer out of town
Local ski boat club raises funds for the Pink Phoenix Cancer Foundation
THE Umhlanga Ski Boat Club recently donated R10 000 to the Pink Phoenix Cancer Foundation. The funds, raised through an uMhlanga Parkrun, will go towards the Kids 4 Life initiative (started by Pink Phoenix), which supports the needs of individual children presently undergoing cancer treatment.
Ray de Vries, event coordinator for the uMhlanga Parkrun, said he was approached by the Ski Boat Club, which offered to sponsor R5 for every pink ribbon worn by runners on the 5km run. On the day R2 500 was raised, and Byron Kane, chairman of the club, decided to raise that amount to R10 000. He has now challenged other businesses to match the amount or beat it.
“We had thought about doing something like this for a long time, and we’ve done a lot of work with Hospice and other charities, and thought this would be an opportunity to give back to the community, especially to such a worthy cause. Everyone has been touched, or knows someone who has or had cancer; it’s a disease that doesn’t discriminate. Our hope is that the money raised will go towards finding a cure for cancer,” Kane said.
Founder of Pink Phoenix, Sharon van Straaten, said she was blown away by the support.
“The first year we launched the Kids 4 Life initiative we supported children at Capital Haemotology Hospital in Westridge. This year we are raising funds for Manelisi ‘Neli’ Mthembu and Brooklyn Rex, who each have a rare form of blood cancer. We are humbled by the support from the community, and especially from Ray and the ski boat club: this has given us great exposure as to what the foundation does.
“This is an event by the community for the community, and we encourage more people to get involved,” said van Straaten, who also took part in the 5km run.
Event coordinator for the Parkrun, Ray de Vries, echoed Kane and van Straaten’s sentiments, urging other residents and businesses to get involved in the initiative.
“It’s great to be able to give back. Besides raising cancer awareness, we are actually making a difference in the lives of the two very special girls,” de Vries said. “I’ve been in the events business for more than 20 years, and it’s wonderful to be able to do this for a local charity.”
If you’d like to donate to Pink Phoenix, SMS ‘Kids 4 Life’ and your name to 49242 to donate R20 to the initiative. Online donations are also welcome.
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