Despite the sense of frivolity, the serious business of fighting cancer was at the front of everyone’s minds.

Nelspruit Saturday 6^th March 2010, 6pm 

Cancer survivors take to the track, walking because they believe, they hope, they live and they remember.  They walk for those who have passed away, they walk for those who are debilitated and they walk for those who will survive the big C, just as they have.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies Nelspruit, along with The Dis-Chem Foundation, supported this initiative with three teams of staff members walking to support Cansa’s Relay For Life marathon.   Teams were encouraged to adopt a theme for the evening.

Relay For Life is an international movement that unites cancer survivors and the communities that care about them.  It has taken South Africa by storm and this year 72 communities will do overnight events to honour those living with cancer, to remember those who lost the battle and to fight back to save lives.  Relay for Life embraces whole communities, from the very young to the old. It is a unique event that offers everyone in a community the opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. It represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported and that one day cancer will be eliminated.  

 

During the evening, there was an inspirational moment when candles were lit in bags decorated by people who had purchased them while the haunting words of Amazing Grace was sung a capella.

From 6pm to 6am, Dis-Chem’s staff members showed how they cared in various ways.

Store Manager Riaan Horne and his wife Veronica prepared potjies of oxtail for those brave enough to walk the 12-hour marathon.   Sleeping bags were made ready for those who needed to rest.  Coffee was passed out to keep supporters awake!  Staff members encouraged other walkers by handing out bottles of Bene water (thank you Bene for the donation!)  

Dis-Chem cashiers, salespeople, cleaners, pharmacists, Dis-Chem husbands, wives and children - they all banded together to show they too cared.

Some had their heads shaved, others sprayed their hair into interesting designs, some wore brightly coloured wigs.  Many purchased button badges in memory of a loved one. 

  

Dis-Chem’s very unique Wilma, who transformed herself from Cosmetics Manager to Scary Fairy for the evening, said   “We’ll beat cancer right out of here!”  Someone who agrees heartily with her is Weichke, the Vitamins Manager.  Weichke is a breast cancer survivor and it is because of this that the staff of Dis-Chem Nelspruit adopted the theme “We Care About Boobs”.  

And Dis-Chem does.  Because We’re Pharmacists Who Care.

The Dis-Chem Foundation made a substantial donation to CANSA on behalf of its Benefits Members at this event.