When the marching band began to play, three-year-old Zoe Holloway instinctively started to march around the Jan Smuts Stadium track in her diminutive pink gumboots.
She was one of three tiny cancer survivors to head up the survivors’ lap of the eighth Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) Relay for Life, which saw hundreds of people spend Saturday night strolling around the track to pay tribute to people battling the disease.
In between laps, walkers rested and grabbed sustenance in a field of tents and gazebos erected by participating teams.
Divisional manager of Cansa Eastern Cape Michelle Goddard said the relay was the association’s biggest fundraiser, having raised R830000 last year. “The survivors have their own VIP tent where they get a goodie bag, something to eat and drink and their own survivor sash – like Miss SA.”
The relay, which saw teams of 15 people take turns to trudge around the stadium for 13 hours, was the brainchild of an American surgeon who 30 years ago walked through the night and raised $18500.
“Since then the event has spread to 22 countries. We walk through the night because cancer does not sleep,” said Goddard.
Bronwyn Holloway said Zoe had been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia in June last year and although she was in remission, would only complete her chemotherapy course in August.
“She has had to grow up very quickly. Chemo is terrible. You need support and so it is so awesome to be part of this relay. It’s phenomenal to see how many people braved this awful weather to celebrate survivors and honour those who didn’t make it. Our country is so disunited at the moment, but here all ages and all races are walking because cancer does not discriminate.”
Optometrist Theo Kretzmann said his daughter, Bella, four, was also diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia, when she was two. “This is a special day to say that those who are gone are not forgotten and to keep up the hope of those who are still fighting.”
Breast cancer survivor and candidate attorney Thembeka Dunywa, 56, said she had felt “honoured and uplifted” to see so many people at the event.
Life St Dominic’s Hospital sister and breast cancer survivor Helen Flanagan, 50, said she would walk all night with fellows staffers, who called their team the “Pink Viking Ladies”.
Once night fell, a poignant luminaria ceremony was held in which rows of candles ensconced in white paper bags were lit to signify loved ones who had lost their fight with cancer and others who were still ill.
Youngsters battling cancer shine at fund-raising relay
She was one of three tiny cancer survivors to head up the survivors’ lap of the eighth Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) Relay for Life, which saw hundreds of people spend Saturday night strolling around the track to pay tribute to people battling the disease.
In between laps, walkers rested and grabbed sustenance in a field of tents and gazebos erected by participating teams.
Divisional manager of Cansa Eastern Cape Michelle Goddard said the relay was the association’s biggest fundraiser, having raised R830000 last year. “The survivors have their own VIP tent where they get a goodie bag, something to eat and drink and their own survivor sash – like Miss SA.”
The relay, which saw teams of 15 people take turns to trudge around the stadium for 13 hours, was the brainchild of an American surgeon who 30 years ago walked through the night and raised $18500.
“Since then the event has spread to 22 countries. We walk through the night because cancer does not sleep,” said Goddard.
Bronwyn Holloway said Zoe had been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia in June last year and although she was in remission, would only complete her chemotherapy course in August.
“She has had to grow up very quickly. Chemo is terrible. You need support and so it is so awesome to be part of this relay. It’s phenomenal to see how many people braved this awful weather to celebrate survivors and honour those who didn’t make it. Our country is so disunited at the moment, but here all ages and all races are walking because cancer does not discriminate.”
Optometrist Theo Kretzmann said his daughter, Bella, four, was also diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia, when she was two. “This is a special day to say that those who are gone are not forgotten and to keep up the hope of those who are still fighting.”
Breast cancer survivor and candidate attorney Thembeka Dunywa, 56, said she had felt “honoured and uplifted” to see so many people at the event.
Life St Dominic’s Hospital sister and breast cancer survivor Helen Flanagan, 50, said she would walk all night with fellows staffers, who called their team the “Pink Viking Ladies”.
Once night fell, a poignant luminaria ceremony was held in which rows of candles ensconced in white paper bags were lit to signify loved ones who had lost their fight with cancer and others who were still ill.
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