In an effort to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer, e.tv has joined forces with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) Relay For Life and Bokomo Weet-Bix to organise 11 unique events around the country.

Relay For Life is recognised as the world’s largest global movement to fight the disease. Each year, volunteers in 21 countries worldwide, including South Africa, gather to take part in this global movement. CANSA’s adopted the Relay campaign in 2005, when it recognised communities as strategic drivers in the spread of cancer awareness to those not affected with the disease as well as equally spreading a message of hope to every South African family affected by the disease. Last year alone, CANSA hosted 79 events consisting of approximately 80,000 people in attendance.

“Our partnership with Bokomo Weet-Bix and e.tv helps to increase awareness and will encourage more South African communities to participate and host Relay events. The more people participate and the more Relay events are hosted, the more funds are raised for our CANSA Care Centres where the respective Relay events are hosted. This allows CANSA to continue to provide a life-saving service to the community”, says CANSA CEO, Sue Janse van Rensburg.

Since cancer does not discriminate, through its involvement in the CANSA Relay For Life campaign, e.tv hopes to spread a message of hope to a much broader audience which will include everyone from all walks of life regardless of their age, race and gender. A host of e.tv actors and presenters will pledge their support to the nationwide CANSA Relay For Life walks. Television personalities such as Club 808’s Dineo Ranaka, Rhythm City’s Tebogo Khalo (Puleng) and Amo Chidi (Reneilwe); Kaelo Stories of Hope presenter Joel Zuma as well as Morena Sefatsa and Kriya Gangiah from Craz-e will all unite in spreading awareness and hope.

e.tv Head of Channel Division Monde Twala says, “Following our successful partnership with Bokomo Weet-Bix with the Angel’s Walking campaign, the tremendous momentum gained at the 2011 event inspired the channel to broaden its reach beyond Johannesburg. We identified the CANSA Relay For Life as the perfect catalyst to spread national awareness not only to big urban areas but also to the smallest and most remote communities.”

Corporate companies are invited to register their team of 10 to 15 co-workers, family, colleagues and/or friends online at www.cansa-corporate-relay.co.za for a fee of R2,500 per team for the Corporate Relay For Life taking place on the 1 September 2012 at the Denel Property Group in Irene, Pretoria. Community members are invited to also register their teams to the various CANSA Relay For Life events taking place countrywide, for a fee of R500.

The campaign will kick off at the Glenwood Boys High School in Durban from 25 August 2012 at 18h00 to 06h00, on 26 August 2012 gaining momentum in various other hosting cities, namely, Polokwane in October 2012; Bloemfontein in November 2012; Mosselbay in November 2012; George in February 2013; East London in February 2013; Potchefstroom in February 2013; Upington in March 2013; Nelspruit in March 2013 and wrapping up in the Vaal Triangle in March 2013.

Source: ScreenAfrica