A WHOPPING R32 300 was raised for breast cancer prevention through a Durban North pilates studio recently. Sarah Marshall of Peach Pilates said she hosted a donation-based pilates class in her Durban North studio and shared the class via Zoom.
All proceeds were sent to Reach for Recovery to fund mammograms as part of their early detection campaign. Regional chairperson for KZN, Jenny Caldwell said the money raised will fund free mammogram for women in need.
“We have already done 22 mammograms across Durban in October. We sponsor women who don’t have medical aid, who are over 40-years-old and haven’t had a mammogram for at least two years. If they meet the criteria, they can email me and I’ll send them a form to fill in. Once approved, they are sent for the mammogram by us,” she said.
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As a cancer survivor herself, Caldwell emphasized the importance of early detection.
“When I was diagnosed two years ago there was a tiny lump and I caught it early. I wanted to go starlight away for a mammogram. I can’t imagine having to wait. Mammograms cost over R1000 and state hospitals only offer them once a lump is found,” she said.
The Reach for Recovery team includes 54 breast cancer survivors, said Jenny.
“We have two arms to our work. One is breast cancer awareness because awareness really is the key to survival. Because we are survivors we also go out to hospitals. We get a call when a patient has had a mastectomy and we go and visit them the day after the operation. You will be standing by her bedside and she thinks she is going to die. We offer encouragement,” she added.
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Jenny said Covid-19 had presented a challenge with this year’s breast cancer awareness campaign.
“We usually host a huge event with 400 people, but we couldn’t do that this year, we had to cancel the event,” she said.
For more information, email Jenny Caldwell via jennyc.rfr@mweb.co.za or call her on 083 790 4966.
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