Cansa left in cold after previous two SA Run4Cancer marathons

Controversy surrounds the hosting of the 2019 SA Run4Cancer Ultra Marathon that is scheduled to take place in the city on 26 October after allegations surfaced that structures in the province promoting cancer awareness and treatment of patients did not receive a single cent from the proceeds of the events that were hosted during 2017 and 2018. Sources within Cansa Limpopo and the TLC Ward of Pietersburg Provincial Hospital (Ward L), confirmed that, contrary to undertakings and several requests to oblige, they were given a cold shoulder by the organisers of the last two events.
The sources provided Polokwane Observer with a document that was released at the launch of the marathon initiative during 2017 and which clearly stated that Ward L was a beneficiary of the marathon.
Another source, who is a volunteer at Cansa said that it was a shame that the sentiment of cancer was used to raise funds for an organisation that does not make any contribution to the residents of the area supporting the event.

SA Run4Cancer Ultra Marathon Chairperson, Tom Sedibe was requested to comment and said that the initiative was launched in 2017 promoting health and fitness in partnership with the Department of Health. According to Sedibe, Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba was present at the media launch at Ward L early in 2017. The TLC Ward and Cansa were also present at the launch as stakeholders, according to Sedibe.
Sedibe emphasised that SA Run4Cancer did not commit any monetary value to be contributed to any of the beneficiaries. “Cansa is our partner (and) we offered them a trade exchange platform where during our manual registration two days duration and day of the race (they) were allocated a stall at the host venue for three days raising funds throughout selling their merchandise,” Sedibe said.
“We as the organisation rely on funding as an NPC to run this race and it involves a lot of logistics in place of which due to the recent economic decline from the past years. Since we have started the race we are struggling to have funders, therefore we are in no position whatsoever to commit any monetary value until we are able to sustain the project. Currently the project itself is making sure that service providers, general logistics and winners’ prizes are paid up from any funds raised,” Sedibe added.
Sedibe was invited to avail financial statements indicating how proceeds of the previous two events were utilised but did not take the opportunity to clarify the situation or to comment on an allegation that a provincial government department made a substantial contribution to SA Run4Cancer.
At the time of going to print attempts to ascertain whether any provincial government department has indeed contributed to the last two events had yielded no results.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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