South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association presents cheque to Reach for Recovery

Reach for Recovery and representatives of South African Mushroom Farmers' Association celebrate World Cancer Day with family and friends at Truffles on the Park in Sandton.

Reach to Recovery reaches a milestone with an amazing cheque handover.

The mission of spreading awareness of World Cancer Day continues to go strong as members of the Reach for Recovery programme and representatives of the South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association organised their annual Power of Pink campaign.

Anita Raath, Kelebogile Nonldzaba and Pie Mully. Photo: Motlatsi Mailula

World Cancer Day on February 3, was celebrated by the two organisations the day before at Truffles on the Park in Sandton. To show their solidarity with patients and survivors of breast cancer, participants wore pink from head to toe.

Emmaunuel Letlepo with his partner and breast cancer survivor Ditshane. Photo: Motlatsi Mailula

Members of Reach for Recovery who are breast cancer survivors were more than delighted to share their journey of recovery with participants after lunch.
One member, in particular, Matsie Morolo shared a powerful message about how she felt when she received the news that she had breast cancer.

Breast cancer survivor and member of the Reach for Recovery Matsie Morolo shares her personal story of recovery with the participants of the campaign. Photo: Motlatsi Mailula

“I am from a family of cancer people so when I was young, my mother would always remind me to stay healthy. I got the news that I had breast cancer in 2019 and even though I was prepared, I was not… The one thing that helped me during that time was the thought of leaving my children as they only have me and the support of my family and friends,” said Morolo.

Women of Reach for Recovery display their pink outfits in solidarity of the awareness campaign of pink is power and World Cancer Day. Photo: Motlatsi Mailula

After a few guest speakers discussed the insights into World Cancer Day including the specialist surgeon Dr Phumudzo Ndwambi, the chairman of the South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association Ross Richardson presented Reach for Recovery with a cheque for its campaign.

Gina McLoughlin is one of the organisers of the Power of Pink campaign. Photo: Motlatsi Mailula

“It is amazing to be able to help others through this important initiative. With the assistance of Pick n Pay and the mushroom consumers, we were able to reach our target by raising funds for the Reach for Recovery organisation,” said Richardson. “According to the City of Hope Cancer Centre in California, it is known that eating 10 grams of mushrooms a day, lowers the risk of getting breast cancer by half.”

Samantha Sookane. Photo: Motlatsi Mailula

The Reach for Recovery chairperson, Stephnè Jacobs received the cheque of R587 262 which will be used to assist breast cancer patients and survivors during their time of need. Guests were given a packet of mushrooms and gifts for their ongoing support during the course of the campaign.

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