Cancer – Lighting the candle of hope
De Beer stressed the point of taking responsibility for your own health in order to make sure that your family does not suffer.
The African Survivor Foundation (ASF) visited the elderly of the Sisi Gogo Caregiver Centre on Wednesday.
Jimmy Motlhabe from the Randfontein Health Department and Magdeline Sebokolodi, a health promoter at the P.J Maree clinic initiated the talk and invited the ASF to address the community of Toekomsrus.
The ASF (#destination hope) will be embarking on a busy schedule this year, hosting breakfasts for men, visiting schools, businesses and churches. They want to get more people motivated and educated to break the stigma of cancer. At the moment they are busy visiting old age homes in Randgate, West Porges and in Toekomsrus.
The ASF focuses on educating parents, men and boys about testicular cancer, early detection of it and importantly self evaluation.
Gert de Beer one of the ASF founders started off with a Christian song and then surprised the group with shocking statistics that one in every four people will get cancer. It is also said more people will die of cancer than HIV and TB combined.
De Beer then stressed the point of taking responsibility for your own health in order to make sure your family does not suffer.
Iain Batten, the other founder of ASF who himself is a testicular, lung and skin cancer survivor addressed the group by telling them his own personal struggle with cancer, which started in 2003. He says he has witnessed the deadly impact cancer had on his family.
Batten told how people would follow the stigma and treat him differently because of his cancer. His testicular cancer was only detected in the later stages, which made everything worse, as this type of cancer is very treatable in the first stages. After countless chemotherapy treatments, a lot of pain and even radiation, Batten wanted to give up hope in 2009.
He says, “I was lying in bed and kept on hearing my name, there was nobody around. I felt a warm feeling come over my body, and I realised it could only be God, who said: My son, get up and tell your story.”
Since the Batten has kept on telling his story of hope and found his purpose together with de Beer, educating communities about testicular cancer. A 13-year-old boy died last year of this terrible illness and men are not aware of the importance of self evaluation. Men between the ages of 15 to 40 are at risk and men should also evaluate their breast, as women do, for cancer.
Businesses, churches and schools are welcome to contact them on 084 353 9724 to arrange a talk or for any sponsorships or donations.
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