Read English media release.

“KANSA wil graag die publiek, skole, winkelsentra en besighede wat aan hierdie lewensveranderende inisiatiewe deelgeneem het, bedank,” sê Rachel Wall, KANSA se Hoof: Besigheidsontwikkeling. “Ons is baie dankbaar dat soveel meer besighede in vanjaar se Shavathon deelgeneem het en ons hoop om hierdie rekord volgende jaar weer te breek.”

Vir die eerste keer in ‘n Shavathon het KANSA ‘n aanlynplatform geloods waar vrywilligers en besighede in Suid-Afrika kon deelneem as aanlynkampioene deur fondse in te samel. Sharks rugbyspeler Ross Skeate en kankeroorwinnaar Charmaine Stumke is twee van die kampioene wat onderneem het om hulle hare af te skeer sodra hulle hul teikens bereik het. “Dankie aan elke deelnemer op hierdie aanlynplatform – mense kan steeds hulle ondersteuning betoon deur ‘n bydrae te maak om ons kampioene te help om die dringend-benodigde fondse te in om die geveg teen kanker voort te sit,” voeg Wall by.

Met die 2012 Shavathon is:

• Meer as 70 000 blikkies kleurstof gebruik.
• Meer as 1 600 haarknippers gebruik by werks- en openbare plekke.
• Meer as 400 werksplekke en organisasies betrokke gewees.
• Meer as 300 winkelsentra in Suid-Afrika betrokke gewees in die Shavathon om kanker te help beveg.

KANSA wil alle borge en vennote van harte bedank. SABC 2, ons CSI media vennoot en ons toegewyde verskaffers Wahl Knippers, Warehouse & Courier IT, Academy Brushware, Newsclip Media Monitoring en Limegreen Online Design en ander media vennote, asook almal wat produkte of dienste teen afslagpryse gelewer of skenkings gemaak het. Baie dankie aan die bekende Suid-Afrikaanse musiekgroep Freshlyground om KANSA toe te laat om hulle musiek gratis vir hulle Shavathonadvertensies op radio en TV te gebruik en deel te neem aan Shavathon 2012 deur hulle hare met al die kleure van die reënboog te laat kleur.

Wall eindig deur te sê: “Deur nou aanlyn te gaan kan jy aanhou om KANSA te ondersteun deur fondse vir ons aanlynkampioene te in tot einde April. 56 Aanlynkampioene het reeds naby aan R100 000 geïn, maar met ‘n teiken van R500 000 benodig ons die hulp van elke Suid-Afrikaner. Met jou bydrae sal KANSA in staat wees om meer kankeroorwinnaars by ons KANSA Versorgingsentra te ondersteun en aanhou om ons lewensreddende dienste in die gemeenskap te lewer.”

Omtrent KANSA

KANSA bied ‘n uniek geïntegreerde diens aan die publiek en aan almal wat deur kanker geraak is. As die voorste rolspeler in kankernavorsing (meer as R6 miljoen) word jaarliks spandeer), word die wetenskaplike bevindinge en kennis opgedoen deur ons navorsing aangewend om ons gesondheidsprogramme te rig en ons waghondfunksie tot groter voordeel van die publiek uit te brei.

Ons verreikende gesondheidsprogramme sluit in die voorkoming en opvoedkundige programme, KANSA Versorgingsentra wat stoma en limfedeemklinieke insluit, mediese toerusting huur, tolvry lyne en ondersteuning aan kinders wat deur kanker geraak is en hulle gesinne. Pasiëntsorg en ondersteuning by een van die 13 KANSA Sorgsentra in die groot metropolitaanse gebiede en een hospitium (in Polokwane) vir plattelandsee kankerpasiënte asook KANSA TLC Verblyf vir pediatriese onkologie pasiënte.

(Vir media inligting skakel asseblief Lucy Balona, Uitvoerende Bestuurder: Bemarking en Kommunikasie by KANSA of e-pos: lbalona@cansa.org.za, skakel 011 616 7662 of sel: 082 459 5230. Of besoek www.cansa.org.za of skakel KANSA tolvry 0800 22 66 22, of e-pos: info@cansa.org.za).

Lees Afrikaanse persvrystelling.

“CANSA would like to thank the public, schools, shopping centres and businesses who took part in this life-changing initiative,” says Rachel Wall, CANSA’s Chief Business Development Officer.

“We’re very grateful that so many more corporate companies were involved with this year’s Shavathon and we hope to break the record again next year.”

As a first for Shavathon, CANSA launched an online platform where volunteers and corporate South Africa took part as online ‘Champions’ by raising funds. Sharks rugby player, Ross Skeate, and cancer survivor Charmaine Stumke, are two such champions who bravely volunteered to shave off their hair if they reach their financial target.

“Thank you to every participant of the online platform – people can still show their support by making a contribution to help our champions raise the much-needed funds if we want to continue our fight against cancer,” adds Wall.

 During Shavathon 2012

• Over 70 000  tins of colour spray were used
• Over 1 600 clippers (shavers) shaved away at workplaces and public venues
• Over 400 workplaces and corporates took part in the cause
• And more than 300 shopping centres in South Africa hosted CANSA Shavathon events to fight cancer

CANSA would like to sincerely thank all sponsors and partners:

SABC 2 – is the CSI media partner and dedicated suppliers are Wahl Clippers, Warehouse & Courier IT, Academy Brushware, Newsclip Media Monitoring and Limegreen Online Design and other media partners, as well as all those who supplied services or products at a discount or made donations.

A big thank you also goes out to renowned South African music band, Freshlyground, for allowing CANSA to use their music for free for its Shavathon radio and TV adverts and taking part in Shavathon 2012 by spraying their hair with all the colours of the rainbow.

Wall concludes, “By logging on now you can continue to support Shavathon by raising funds for our online champions until end April - 56 online champions have already raised close to R100 000, but with a goal of R500 000 we need the help of every South African. With your contribution CANSA will be able to support even more cancer survivors at our CANSA Care Centres and continue to provide our life-saving service to the community.”

So much so that it took organisers less than one hour to reach their target of R1,500.

The Organisational Health section and commerce hosted the day as part of this year’s ninth CANSA Shavathon – an annual event staged by the Cancer Association of South Africa to raise money for cancer research and education.

Getting a fashionable colour or cut was not the only thing drawing in the crowds, either – not that there was a want for funky do’s. Most took part because they’ve been affected by cancer in some way or other. “I’m doing it in memory of my mother-in-law, who recently passed away from cancer,” said Yolanda van der Rheede of the College of Accounting.

And it wasn’t just staff who got into the spirit and under the shears – the entire information systems honours class joined in, too. “We’re here to show that we’re not just a group of geeks sitting behind computers,” said student Bane Nogemane. “As IS students, we know how on-time information can change lives.”

Same goes for cancer awareness and research.

UCT Shieyaam Jacobs, Janine Osmon and Carmen Pearce

UCT Shaun Parsons of the College of Accounting is shaved by Jisreel Aries of CANSA

UCT recruitment & selection advisor, HR, Zulile Ncayiyana, has her hair treated by Liwalethu Ndinga

UCT Prof John Simpson of the School of Management Studies has his hair coloured by Emilia Delfin

UCT organisational health manager, Blanche Claasen-Hoskins

UCT Nonnie Falala of the School of Management Studies has her hair treated by Liwalethu Ndinga

UCT Gizelle Willows gets a lesson from Jisreel Aries of CANSA before she tackles the hair of Mark Graham

UCT Eleanor of the College of Accounting gets the treatment from Abel Macuacua

View original article and full gallery on UCT website.

You can read about their efforts and support them here.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far! We’re aiming to raise R500 000 in the online campaign, you can help us to reach our target by making a secure online donation here.

Read more about being SunSmart and CANSA’s FotoFinder.

I haven’t personally lost someone as a result of cancer, but there are so many of my friends, family members, colleagues and clients who have been effected by cancer in some way or another.

I figured this is my way to show support to all of them..

Jennifer, Thank you so much for your brave and kind gesture to support Shavathon!

The Sunrise show at 6:15 am on e.tv, 29 February 2012, interviewed Johanna Francis – breast cancer survivor and Manager for our CANSA Lukholweni Care Home in Soweto. She shared her story of Hope and also talked about CANSA Shavathon.

My name is Johanna Francis.

I am 50 years old and married and have three children, a daughter and two sons and a grandson.  I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in 1999.  I had a radical modified left mastectomy.  I was in remission for three years then had a local recurrence in 2003.  I was on Tamoxifen (never had a dull moment with these drugs…)

Cancer recurred all over again and then I had my encounter with chemotherapy which lasted for six months with all its side effects which I could handle because in my mind I just convinced myself that this is like fighting nausea in pregnancy.  I also had radiation for 35 days, seven weeks to be exact so reconstruction was out.

I then became a volunteer and started telling my story in the TRUE LOVE,FAIR LADY and the SARIE magazines while I was still fighting emotions.  In 2001 during Breast Cancer Awareness month I appeared in the EDGARS CLUB magazine.  Thanks to CANSA for helping me not to feel sorry for myself.  Thanks to my faithful husband and adorable children who helped me to overcome all the highs and lows.  I was 37 years old when I was first diagnosed, I turned 50 in January 2012.  I am currently in remission.

I started working for CANSA in 2007 as Administrator at the Lenasia office which closed down last year.  In June 2008 I became Care Manager of LUKHOLWENI Care Home in Soweto.  LUKHOLWENI meaning Hope really gives cancer clients the opportunity to commence cancer treatment with no care of defaulting.  We provide accommodation, transport to and from the hospital as well as two meals per day.

CANSA Relay - 10th March 2011 Johanna on the right

LUKHOLWENI was founded by the Presbyterian Church in Orlando East and was a Primary School back then.The church started this outreach program and CANSA took over in 1995, they did some renovations in 2003 and re-opened in 2004. My job is looking after our clients’ emotional, spiritual and physical needs.  We have a fulltime social worker and a registered nurse on duty every day.

We have an inhouse support group that enables clients to talk about their own challenges, their fears and also to share their highlights.

Johanna at the CANSA Relay - 10th March 2011

We face major electricity cuts during winter months and we need a generator – due to illegal connections in the area.

A brand new roof is also needed because fixing the old roof causes more problems.   The walls need painting and the bedroom doors need to be replaced.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story and everyone’s support during Shavathon.

Johanna Francis

I will shave my head in memory of the Late Sally Subbaye who gave me a wonderful sister Reshma and of course Vishal

In memory of the Late :

• Sally Subbaye
• Petra Grant – who gave me a wonderful friend NICOLEEN!
• Mrs Krishnan – Rishis mum – Thanks Rishi for your support
• Trinis Father in law

We support the following people in their fight:

• Waqar Gafoor who diagnosed at age 3 – my dear friends son – now 18 and in remission
• My neighbour Peru
• My dear friend and neighbour Aunty Pru who is an amazing woman
• My friend Debbie Durant
• Reshnis mum
• Harshanas husband

And all those who are affected by this disease!   (After photo’s to follow soon…)

Please click here to support her online campaign for Shavathon.

Maria Scholtz, General Manager: Relay For Life

“Being involved with CANSA Relay For Life nationally, has brought me in contact with so many amazing cancer survivors.  At the CANSA RFL Summit in 2011, I listened to our 4 International Hero’s of Hope sharing their stories, and also colleagues sharing their caretaker roles.

After...

So yes – my shave was for them, to say thank you for allowing me to be part of their lives and for sharing with us their stories of hope, love and faith.”