A MONTCLAIR resident has teamed up with the ward 64 committee to host a memorial and awareness walk for breast cancer on Saturday, 29 August.
In keeping with women’s month and breast cancer awareness month, 26-year-old Nolwazi Nhlangulela aims to highlight the life-threatening disease that affects so many.
“Having lost my father to cancer, I am very passionate about creating awareness. Losing my dad four years ago was the most devastating experience my family has ever been through. Through the grieving, I realised so many families go through the trauma of dealing with cancer and it was then that my passion for connecting with other families who have lost a loved one, and those whose loved one beat cancer, was born. I find it amazing that even in his death, dad was able to give me life once again,” she said.
Nhlangulela’s father only told his family about his struggle after fighting the disease for many months.
“By the time our family found out, it was close to the end of his road. Being the head of the house with a wife and only daughters, I guess he didn’t want us to worry, or he thought he could do it on his own (he was very stubborn),” she remembered fondly. “Whatever his reasons were for not telling us, I’ve stopped trying to rationalise and have made peace with what is. He died in 2011 from prostate cancer and it was the most excruciating pain my family has gone through.”
Nhlangulela hopes the walk will raise awareness about cancer and pay tribute to cancer sufferers. It will start at Mowat Park High School at 11am and end at the Montclair sports grounds behind the Montclair recreational hall. Community members are invited to attend free of charge and Nhlangulela urges people to dress in pink or white sportswear.
“I would like people who have a loved one who has fought cancer to bring a photo of them. We will have a memorial board to pay tribute to all the brave fighters. I would like for this walk to further unite my community and all the families, the widows, widowers and orphans that this disease has created.
I want people to know there are other people who they may have never met but who care about what they are going through. I would like to see this walk expand and become annual and hopefully take on a life of its own.
I’m so thankful to all the people who have believed in this from the start, especially my mom who suffered more than all of us when she lost her husband. The support has been immense and I don’t even have the words to accurately articulate how humbled and grateful I am.”
For information call Nolwazi Nhlangulela on 063-300-2590 or 076-633-8359.
