Get out your walking shoes because the iTheba Walkathon is back
HOUGHTON – A panel of breast cancer survivors discuss how the funds raised from the iThemba Walkathon benefit people like them.
Exercising is good for you but it is even better when it is for a good cause.
The 14th annual iThemba Walkathon is around the corner and organisers decided to host a media event in Houghton on 26 June to outline why exactly community members ought to put on their walking shoes for the 5km and 8km walks at Marks Park Sports Club on 20 October.
A panel of seven women from various non-profit organisations, and social welfare and law groups told the media about the work they do to support breast cancer survivors, as well as victims of domestic violence.
All of the organisations the panelists represent have partnered with Avon and benefit from proceeds of the walk.
Several of the women told personal stories from their own struggles with breast cancer, driving home how the work their organisations does helps the individual.
“I decided not to tell anybody… I was a sales rep and I would go see a client, go to chemo, and go see a client straight afterwards… I would get to reception, go to the restroom because can you imagine me getting sick all over the client,” confessed Sonia Pretorius from Cansa.
She added. “When I got the call that my tests came back positive and I was in remission, I phoned my mom and told her by the way I have breast cancer.”
Belinda Bekker, breast cancer survivor and Justine business leader, said, “I can remember waking up at 1am one morning and crying until 6am because I was going to lose my hair because it was my greatest fear.”
All the panellists agreed that one should not struggle with breast cancer alone, and should seek all the support they can.
“It is this need that the iThemba Walkathon was born out of: The need to generate awareness and educate the public about breast cancer with a view to equipping them with adequate knowledge that would allow them to detect breast cancer symptoms early,” said Katlego Modipane, internal communications, and corporate affairs specialist at Avon.
He explained that when the walkathon was first held in 2006 it had 500 walkers. The walkathon is now the largest of its kind in 50 countries where Avon operates, with 29 000 walkers each year.
Registrations open on 2 July at www.ithembawalkathon.co.za
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