North residents support shavathon
Santana Campobasso, who survived cancer, organised the shavathon in order to create awareness among north residents.
A successful shavathon was held in Pretoria North at the weekend, in order to support people suffering from cancer.
Santana Campobasso, who survived cancer, organised the shavathon in order to create awareness among north residents. She was elected Global Hero of Hope in 2019.
“At age four, Santana was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. People across the country, from different religious groups, prayed for her,” said resident Rina Marx.
Marx told Rekord that Campobasso was a force to be reckoned with and her story was uniquely inspiring.
“The specialist who treated Campobasso told her parents her chances of survival after such a major operation were extremely slim and if she did survive she would be paralysed with a speech problem.
“In the hospital, she lay across from an adult man because the hospital did not have a children’s cancer ward at that time.”
The man’s wife told Campobasso’s parents, her husband will die so Santana can survive.
He, unfortunately, passed away the next day, and they later found out his surname was Santana.
“She survived the operation with a small speech impediment that few people notice when she speaks. She has been in remission for 19 years now.”
Campobasso has had an immense passion for life after her ordeal.
She became the first chairperson at the Cansa Relay.
She started the Courageous Me initiative that treats women dealing with cancer to beauty treatments and she loves spending any free time she has managing fundraisers to raise money for patients who can’t afford cancer treatment.
“The first shavathon in Pretoria North was held in 2003, in solidarity and support for cancer sufferers who lost their hair due to one of the side effects of chemotherapy, by shaving or spray-painting their hair. Funds raised are donated for cancer research,” Marx said.
“There were quite a few cancer survivors present at the function and many artists entertained the guests with their beautiful music. Everyone either shaved their hair or spray-painted it with different colours.
“All of this is in the name of our cancer warriors,” Marx concluded.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
