Cancer survivors take to streets to celebrate life and educate communities

A group of cancer survivors are combining their efforts to raise awareness about the early detection and appropriate treatment of cancer. The Cancer.vive campaign, which will see cancer survivors travelling across South African on motorcycles, will kick off in Johannesburg on Saturday, 22 September.

The team, who consist of cancer survivors from all walks of life will be making pit-stops in Soweto, Witbank, Pilgrim?s Rest and Nelspruit. The aim of the NGO People Living With Cancer?s (PLWC) flagship event is to reduce the national cancer death rates through community education and awareness and to empower communities to speak up, especially about the so-called ?shy cancers?. Particular focus will be placed on mining, factory and rural communities across Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

This year French singing sensation Myra Maud will be lending her talents and charm to the Cancer.vive ride, while multi-talented South African dancer and award-winning choreographer, John Sithole, promises to get the crowds on their feet. South African celebrities and cancer survivors, Lillian Dube and Janie du Plessis, are part of the team of riders who will be taking to the road in September.

Cancer.vive operational manager and cancer survivor, Frieda Henning says it?s a spectacular sight when their long procession roars into a town. ?We are always welcomed with great enthusiasm and it?s an exciting highlight when onlookers realise most of the bikers are women.?

?Our education and awareness programmes target the early detection and treatment of all cancers, but we specifically focus on those cancers which, due to social or cultural stigmas, people are hesitant to talk about. The so-called shy cancers include testicular, cervical, prostate, ovarian, breast and colon cancer. They are known as the silent killers as they often go undetected for far too long due to a lack of knowledge, fear or shame,? Henning explains.

Last year?s ride saw the Cancer.vive team making their way from Johannesburg to Cape Town and covering a distance of about 2 400 kilometres. This year the team will travel through Gauteng and Mpumalanga, stopping in among others Soweto, Witbank, Sabie, Nelspruit and Mantongomane.

?The initiative is not only focused on big cities and towns, but we specifically visit rural areas, small towns and remote villages where communities are often unaware of the facts, have limited access to health care and are too afraid or shy to speak out about cancer,? she continues.
?The Cancer.vive team members are living examples of how important early detection is and that every second of life is worth celebrating. We feel blessed and privileged to be survivors of cancer who can make a difference by inspiring others and by helping them to be brave enough to stand up against the disease as well.? she concludes.

Scott Maddock, managing director of Revlon South Africa (which is the title sponsor of the Cancer.vive ride) says they are proud to once again be lending their support: ?This initiative creates awareness, educates and encourages people to talk to one another about a disease that is still so stigmatised in our country. We believe in speaking about Cancer, debating and advocating at all levels with relevant stakeholders, to ensure that the frightening statistics are reversed. At Revlon, we do not just care about people?s looks, but we care about their lives. We will continue to ensure that the plight of millions of people, that do not have access to even the most basic treatment facilities, is addressed.?
The entourage?s powerful motorcycles are supplied by Triumph, and vehicle support is courtesy of Imperial Ford and Mazda. Caltex will keep the tanks and the team?s tummies full on the road.

kykNET will be airing a documentary on last year?s Cancer.vive motorcycle road trip on Sunday, 2 September at 16:00 . It will cover all of the stories of hope and survival and what the 2012 trip will entail.

Should members of the public want to support the Cancer.vive campaign, they can follow the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cancer.vive or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cancervive_ride .

Source: http://www.publicityupdate.co.za/?IDStory=48910&utm_source=Publicity%20Update%20RSS%20Feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

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