VIDEO: All set for 9th annual Cancervive Awareness Ride
The awareness ride will see volunteers travel over 1 200 kilometers across different provinces to raise awareness about cancer.
The 9th annual Cancervive tour was officially launched at Time Square Sun Arena on Thursday.
Attending the event were women from different walks of life who shared their stories of how the disease affected them and how they overcame it.
Sharing her story, cancer survivor and Cancervive ambassador Dr Lillian Dube said she was lucky to have detected her breast cancer early.
The actor and comedian were diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery in 2008.
“When I played the role of Sister Benita (who was a nurse) on Soul City I was exposed to a lot of information about cancer,” she said.
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She said Soul City had educated her to do annual mammograms, which led to her discovering that she had breast cancer.
The role became an avenue for her let out her emotions and deal with her recovery.
“Because sister Betina, the character, also had cancer it allowed me to connect with my emotions,” she said.
“I was able to face my feelings and cry.”
She said she has since used her experience to spread the awareness of the disease.
“I think God chose me to be a survivor because he knew that I would not stop talking about the disease,” she said
“I will not remain silent.”
Other cancer survivors shared their stories.
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The group will take their word of encouragement to many others across the country.
The awareness ride will see volunteers travel over 1 200 kilometers across Gauteng and North West to reach close to 30 000 people in outlying areas.
The entourage will leave from Time Square on 5 October.
They will visit towns such as Bronkhorstspruit, Heidelberg, Hartbeespoort, Magaliesburg and Rustenburg amongst others, returning to Time Square on the 12th.
During the journey, the team will make stops in remote communities and through industrial theatre share the importance of testing and early detection, the signs and symptoms of common cancers and where to go for help.
Survivors also share their testimonials, helping to break down some of the taboos, stigmas and fears surrounding cancer
Dube encouraged men and women not to be shy to examine their bodies.
“Women feel your breasts; examine the areas that we are sometimes told not to look at, if something is wrong you will feel it,” she said.
She also encouraged men to examine their testicles and if there is any pain to seek medical attention.
“Early detection saves lives,” Dube said.
Watch Lillian Dube:
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