Benoni City Times Cuppa for Cansa event a great success

The event hosted 10 tables of guests who had to decorate their own table and provide snacks.

November 4, 2018

Penelope Masilela and Sheina Razack 3 minutes read

Five Roses hampers winners Heila Brophy (left) and Sonia de Almeida.

The Benoni City Times Cuppa for Cansa, hosted in Benoni High School’s impressive Pavilion overlooking the main sports fields on October 27, was nothing short of amazing.

The MC for the event was none other than editor of the City Times, Lana O’Neill who introduced the speakers for the day and hosted the lucky draws.

Sonia Pretorius (event chair for Cansa Relay for Life East Rand and a cancer survivor) and Yolandi Jacobs (community mobiliser fund-raising developer, Cansa East Rand) spoke about why it is important to support the foundation.

“We are a group of people who raise funds, care, spend time together, have tea and help each other,” Yolandi said.

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Sonia invited attendees to join the next Cansa Relay happening on March 8 and 9 in Boksburg at 7am.

The relay runs into the early morning to create an understanding of what cancer patients feel.

“At night it symbolises when they find out about their cancer. It is a dark and lonely place,” Sonia explained.

“But the sunrise symbolises hope.”

Cansa has 11 care centres in South Africa and funds raised go towards supporting them.

Christine Geldart, who is a cancer survivor, spoke about the importance of enjoying life and not getting upset over petty things.

Christine has been fighting cancer for several years and undergone several operations, the latest being on October 30.

“When women are scorned, they do what they do best – fight,” she said.

Her daughters were her reason to keep fighting.

“Every time I was sore, my youngest daughter wanted to kiss it better,” she said.

She referred to herself as a coffee bean. She does not see herself being broken down by the situation but changed into someone who will continue to fight.

Today she owns a business, takes care of her children and continues to fight cancer – her journey so far left many in the room emotional.

Guest speaker Colleen Qvist, who is a business coach, took the stage to do some practical exercises with guests and to teach them about the symptoms of stress.

There are three reasons that these stress symptoms are ignored – too busy, too scared and too comfortable.

She explained that what you put into your body is evident in how your body reacts.

She also asked families and friends to start a gratitude jar where everyone can write about what they are grateful for every day.

Royston Knowles, who is also a cancer survivor, shared about what he turned to when he was diagnosed with stage three cancer.

“I believe my God saved me,” he said.

Royston said he was as fit as a fiddle until one day when he began hallucinating and just felt sick.

“The doctors did not pick up the problem immediately until I went for a CT scan,” he explained.

After an operation, he found his family praying outside the theatre for him.

“The surgeon did not think I would make it, but God stepped in.”

Royston also said he took stemcell supplements daily and believes this helped his immune system to fight the cancer.

“Take your supplements, keep hoping, praying and never give up,” he told guests.

The last speaker was Lizelle van Rensburg who owns Rohi Care.

Lizelle conducted a presentation about Mastectomy Silicone Breast Forms.

Among the many winners for the lucky draws, Heila Brophy and Sonia de Almeida won big with the Five Roses hampers.

The Caxton Boksburg branch won the prize for the best decorated table and the hostess, Elize Kluyts, received a gift voucher from Lakeside Mall to the value of R1 000.

Thank you to our sponsors for making the event a success: Caxton Local Media and Caxton Magazines, Gecko Pots, Lakeside Mall, Face Value, Elegant Moments, Benoni High School, PNA, Paisley and Penny, Five Roses, Haircourts George Rennie, Monarch Rentals, Asiago Modern Italian Eatery, Rampage Modelling Agency, Infinity Place, Indigo Wellness, Aura Beaute, Vanilla Bean, The Cake Boutique, Denise Manning (Avon) and Elize Kluyts (book donations).