Cuppa 4 CANSA host inspires others with her story

“If you didn’t know anyone …Today, you know me,” said Cuppa for CANSA host, Felicity Ramdeyal, extending the hand of friendship to others who are fighting cancer, in a gesture of goodwill and support.

Cuppa is an annual fundraising initiative in which groups of people, be it friends, family, or colleagues, come together and enjoy a Cuppa of something, in an effort to raise funds for CANSA.

The theme of this year’s Cuppa for CANSA, as explained by master of ceremonies, Manny Govender, is ‘With Friends like Teas’.

“The theme expresses the fun, warm, caring and compassion that time spent with friends brings out. Friendship is not about who you spend the most time with. It’s about who you have the best time with, and this is what a Cuppa event embodies,” Govender explained.

Speakers at the Cuppa, which took place at the Canon Lodge on Saturday, August 5, made guests laugh, and cry, with stories of how they, or a loved one, ‘defied the odds’.

Ramdeyal, herself, was diagnosed with aggressive stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer in May last year, and shared her personal journey of fear, guilt, grief, vulnerability, love, hope and faith after learning that she has a terminal disease.

She recalled sitting in the doctor’s surgery and feeling completely numb after being given the dreaded news, “You have cancer.”

She looked back on the moment that ‘reality hit’ and she buried her head in her baby boy’s lap and wept bitterly over being diagnosed with a disease that would inevitably kill her. She remembered all too clearly the self-loathing she felt after dropping her children off at school and realising the impact her diagnosis would have on them.

“I looked at my kids, saw how vulnerable they were and decided I needed to fight,” said Ramdeyal, reflecting on the turning point in which she took her fate into her own hands. “I am still fighting cancer, I am still struggling, but I am here. Cancer has slowed me down so much, but I am grateful for it. Now that things have slowed down, we have more time for hugs, more time for cuddles, more time for what’s really important.”

Govender agreed, “When you learn you are diagnosed with a serious disease, you take stock of your life, you learn about what’s important to you as well. You learn to prioritise. You learn not to waste your time and you tell people you love them.”

“I am hoping that you are doing that daily, telling people that you love them,” he continued. “Because you never know, you just never know. Cancer is a journey and you walk the road alone, but there are many places you stop along the way to get nourishment and nourishment comes from people, from our sources of inspiration and, today, from our hostess, Felicity Ramdeyal, a cancer survivor herself.”

Among the guest speakers, was pharmacist from the Newcastle Hospital, Claire Villiers, who stressed the importance of following the medical regimen prescribed by a doctor.

Prostate cancer survivor, Ismail Kharwa, who was the first patient to undergo a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy at the hands of his urologist, shared his journey with cancer from being diagnosed to being in remission and then hearing that the cancer had returned. Despite the fact that Kharwa recently learned that the cancer has spread to his spine, he told guests that he is doing well on the treatment and is still feeling positive.

“Cancer has a way of changing your entire mind-set. It has made me more compassionate towards others. Any time anyone needs any advice, I am here to help,” he said.

Former CANSA employee, Cindy Dewoonarain, spoke about the strong women in her family who were diagnosed with cancer, who taught her lessons of hope.

Dewoonarain’s mother was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer and has been in remission for six years. “When I feel I don’t have the strength to face the day, I see my mother’s face in my mind,” she said.

Dewoonarain’s aunt was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has been in remission for the past 31 years.

“Even in the darkest hour, there was light. In the light, there was hope. Where there is hope, there is survival. You have more fight in you than you know,” she concluded.

Musical entertainment was provided by Shernice Pursad and Jessé Durbal.

Ramdeyal was able to raise R7 200 which was donated towards the care and support programmes offered at CANSA Care Centres.

See photos here:

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