When someone you care about receives a cancer diagnosis, it’s an awful ordeal to go through. While friends and family are typically the patient’s first line of support, they also have a second family encouraging them, and cheering them on from the side.

Here at Caxton West Rand we regard many of our colleagues as our second family. And when we learnt that one of our most dearest sister publication (Krugersdorp News) journalists, Natasha Pretorius, was diagnosed with small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (a very rare form of cervical cancer), we decided to show her we care.

We invited Cansa’s Ester Pretorius (no relation) to our Witpoortjie office to host one of their well-known Shavathon fundraising events. On Wednesday, March 9 our boardroom was filled with the laughter and friendly chatter of high-spirited colleagues, eager to show their support.

With an array of colours and a pair of hair clippers we not only showed our support to Natasha, but also to the Record’s cherished sales rep, Tana Arp who overcame stage 3 pancreatic cancer not too long ago.

While most opted for a colourful display of hair, we’ve had a few supporters who preferred the longer-lasting effects of the electric shaver. Even though we can’t share in the pain or take it away, we can support the fighters and the warriors in many small ways, even if it’s lending an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on.

The gesture was a touching one for Natasha, and she said, “It’s great to have the support of my friends and colleagues. The fact that they supported me so much was so special because you always just see a Shavathon and the people participating, but it means so much more when it is done in support of you. I sincerely hope that other people fighting cancer also have such special people in their lives to support them”.

Lastly, this goes out to all our readers who are currently battling cancer, or who have overcome it. Always remember that the human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.

With this we would like to wish Natasha – who is constantly inspiring those around her – as well our brave readers a quick and pleasant road to recovery.