Walk to raise funds for cancer awareness at Klipriviersburg
The aim was to raise funds through a guided 5km and 10 km hike to create cancer awareness. Seboni, now 31-years-old was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2015 at the age of 24.
Cancer survivor, Naniki Seboni hosted the Take a hike with CancerVive at the Klipriviersburg Nature Park this past weekend.
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The aim was to raise funds through a guided 5km and 10 km hike to create cancer awareness.
Seboni, now 31-years-old was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2015 at the age of 24. She shared that she wanted to use her experiences and journey to create awareness.
“I had symptoms my whole life, but of course we didn’t know at the time. There were tell-tell signs like severe nose bleeding and sun burn but we just did not think it could be the beginning of something more serious.
That’s why, through the organisation I want people to know and speak about it because for the longest time, it was often not talked about, that is why it was known as the silent killer,” she said.
She added the event was about was creating a platform to address misconceptions and give access to information and treatment.
“What I wanted to do was give hope and say there is life after cancer and here are survivors to prove it,” she said.
“Before they walked, I asked them to pick a pebble and write a loved one’s name, either a survivor or someone in treatment or have passed.
“The objective was that they walk for that person and honour that person’s life and their fight against cancer to say they are not alone and we know their journey from a survivor and support perspective.
“We also created ‘We Will Not Be Silent’ boards and each board has a cancer myth behind it.
“Each survivor chose a board relevant to their story and shared their story and what the board means to them and their journey,” she continued.
The funds raised from the event will go towards different projects aimed at supporting communities, with initiatives such a mini rides, pamphlet distribution, support care, and resources for patients.
“We not only support people within our organisation but also communities we have created in hospitals, with patients and whatever they need,” she concluded.
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Mother of one, Kele Tloubatla who joined the 5km hike was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2013. She shared that the event was important in reaching more individuals and creating a support system.
“When I was diagnosed and went into treatment, I didn’t have enough information about cancer because as black people we never speak about these things. Only when I was diagnosed, I learnt that my mother previously had cancer but never shared it with us.”
After seven years in remission, Tloubatla recently spent two weeks in hospital following a surgery in May after doctors detected cancer cells earlier in the year.
“When I went into surgery for the second time, I went in with a positive attitude. My younger brother donated a piece of his liver so that I can get surgery and I am recovering well but a long journey still awaits me as I am still on treatment. Every little fight in me is for my daughter, she is my daily motivation and the reason I choose to be positive,” she said.
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