To spread the message of hope to all cancer patients and survivors, volunteers of the Randridge Mall’s Cansa Shavathon have spearheaded an initiative to assist in raising funds for the mall’s 10th annual Cansa Shavathon.
The volunteers will be selling blocks of cloth at R10 and one can place their handprint on the cloth, with fabric paint and write their name and a message of hope.
The blocks of cloth will then be sewn together into a blanket called Hopeez, and will be donated to young cancer patients, giving them hope while they are in hospital. The Hands of Hope initiative, along with various sponsors, will be sewing the blocks together to make blankets.
The volunteers who initiated Hands of Hope have been assisting the Randridge Mall’s Cansa Shavathon event for years and want to do more by giving back to the community.
Grethe Doubell-Schüssler, Natalie Swart and Vivian Bester are spearheading Hands of Hope so they can assist those affected by Cancer more than just once a year. Beginning this year, they want to be a permanent fixture in the community and not only around the shavathon but throughout the year.
Doubell-Schüssler has been involved with the Cansa Shavathon for four years and initially started visiting because her friends were volunteers. She was moved by the support from family, friends and survivors as well as people who lost loved ones and who return every year to support the initiative.
“I cannot give money but I can certainly give my time and I’m giving all the time I can. I want to bring the message across that there is hope, and we must cling to that seed and water that,” said Doubell-Schüssler.
Her sentiments were echoed by Swart who has been involved with the Cansa Shavathon event for eight years and enjoys volunteering for an organisation that gives back to the community.
“Cancer is not a nice disease to have but it can be beaten; it’s not a death sentence. That’s why I work so hard towards this cause.”
After four years of being a part of the Cansa Shavathon event, Bester admits she can’t stop volunteering her time to the cause. It started after a friend invited her to become a volunteer and she enjoys the celebration of life that comes with volunteering.
The annual event at the mall on 24 February will be held at the Woolworths Court and there will be R20 000 worth of prizes up for grabs in a draw.
Hot FM radio personality, Mark Pilgram will be broadcasting live from Randridge Mall while the South African Blood Services will also join the event.
Selected stores in the mall will be participating in the shavathon and will be offering discounts and prizes to those who colour or shave their hair.
For more information, contact Randridge Mall Centre Management on 011 792 5817.
