Walking in their shoes

People of Polokwane gathered for the annual Cansa Relay for Life held at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium under the theme ‘Walking in Their Shoes’ on Friday evening.
Local survivors invited to attend the event as special guests were celebrated and honoured with a special ceremony and treated to a dinner by Cansa.
The customary survivors’ lap marking the start of the relay was, as always characterised by emotion and gratitude with some well-known faces no longer there, some new ones added and the strong will to survive radiating from each participant.
Entertainment came in the form of musical items rendered by volunteers and there was plenty to sustain the walkers and their supporters in the form of food stalls.
The luminaria ceremony started at 20:00 when the candles in the personalised luminaria bags lining the track were lit and the lights dimmed in dedication to those who lost the battle and to the courageous survivors still fighting cancer.
The candles were left burning to remind everyone why people continue to fight the disease.
Local businesses and organisations put up tents and gazebos in designated spots on the field from where their teams of 10 to 15 members took turns to walk or run around the track for 12 hours. The goal was to keep one team member on the track at all times, as cancer never sleeps. Participants enjoyed the campout with community camaraderie evident throughout.
David Booth, Community Mobiliser and Fundraiser for Cansa Limpopo, thanked everyone for their enduring participation and continued support and stated that, while the 1 500 entries received were less than last year they hoped to double the number in 2017. He further said the evening went smoothly and those who attended did so for the right reason.

Story and photos: Alet-Elize van Jaarsveld
>>alet-elize@observer.co.za

Featured photo: Survivors at the start o

f the survivors’ lap at the Relay for Life.