Amanda Roestoff is the community mobiliser for Cansa’s Western Gauteng branch.
She worked as a police spokesperson for 12 years until 2005 when The Citizen offered her a job as a senior crime journalist. Soon after she was head-hunted by the Beeld.
While she loved her life as a journalist she realised that her career had stagnated somewhat and that things needed to change.
“You reach a point where you say to yourself, ‘Hey, it’s been fun and great, but realise that you will never be the editor.’ That is when you move on.”
After resigning from Beeld she took three months to herself just to refocus, but far from loafing around the house she trained for and then swam the Midmar Mile.
Roestoff admits that she finds her new job more fulfilling. The self-professed workaholic says knowing that she is making a difference in a cancer patient’s life helps to keep her going.
“There are some people who just want to make money, and that’s all they try to do. Then there are people who realise that all the worldly goods won’t go with you in the end. As one of the latter I choose to help people.”
That willingness to help may partly stem from Roestoff’s own experiences with cancer. Her mother, Helena Roestoff, passed away in 2006 after battling breast cancer for 10 years. Her two older siblings also have been diagnosed with cancer, though they are fortunately in remission.
There are eight women at the Roodepoort-based office, most of them administrative personnel. Roestoff and Zandri Schickerling (Relay for Life Coordinator) attend to fundraising initiatives. Three qualified nurses provide essential patient care services to cancer patients that include home-based care, follow-up visits, and addressing their needs for medical equipment and support groups.
Although Roestoff believes that a cure eventually will be found, she emphasises the importance of healthy living in the meantime and notes that scientists are discovering new ways to improve our lifestyles all the time. Cansa in particular puts tremendous effort into cancer research.
As far as Roestoff is concerned more exposure will better Cansa’s chances in terms of fundraising; after all there are other organisations that while representing a good cause, do not have the history, reach or research capabilities that Cansa does.
There are ongoing fundraising initiatives throughout the financial year. There are about two to five events a month.
“We encourage companies and individuals to continue supporting these initiatives. Cuppa-for-Cansa is still going strong. We have had very successful Cuppa’s thus far. Among these are the R20 000 donated by Laerskool Roodekrans and R50 000 plus donated by an event organised by the businesswoman Angela Middleton. There has also been smaller Cuppa events at several Checkers branches countrywide and by smaller business and church groups.”
The following events are being planned for the West Rand:
•20 September Harley Davidson Drive at Clearwater Mall
•A Relay for Life (RFL) on 26 and 27 September at Greenhills Stadium in Randfontein
•Another RFL at Monument High School on 17 and 18 October
•Flower for Hope, encouraging the public to buy a flower in support
•Face of Cansa, an initiative where a registered nurse visits a company or business and conducts essential tests with a photo finder and a SureTouch machine. It costs just R100 and R120 respectively or R3 000 as a corporate package for companies concerned about their workers’ health.
People who want to volunteer can apply online or visit the Roodepoort office. For more information visit www.cansa.org.za or call 011 768 4342.
