Be colourfully kind and show your support for Cansa

Cansa’s Shavathon is in its 22nd year and what better way to celebrate than with a fund-raising and awareness campaign that focuses on kindness?

The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Be Colourfully Kind’. The campaign kicked off with all-day events on February 24 at selected shopping malls throughout South Africa and continues with individual events held from February 26 to March 29 at workplaces, schools and organisations.

Elijah Masubelele, Cansa head for business development said, “While shopping malls provide us with wonderful platforms to host Shavathon activities every year, we have also found that running individual events with companies, schools and other organisations makes a significant positive impact on creating awareness and raising funds.”

The annual Shavathon never fails to catch the imagination of South Africans who turn up in droves to participate. The very brave shave off their hair, while others spray outrageous colours on their locks to symbolise their support for cancer survivors. And then some grow their hair throughout the year to donate it on the day for the making of wigs for cancer survivors who have lost their hair during treatment. Those who cannot make the events have the option of making online donations.

The theme emphasises the need for people to show empathy and understanding to those affected by the dread disease, while also maintaining a positive outlook.

The funds raised are used to provide education and screening initiatives, as well as care and support services to cancer patients and their loved ones. In addition, funds go towards pop-up clinics to perform cancer screening, lifestyle risk assessments and educational cancer awareness

The donation fee is R50 for adults and R25 for children under 12.

For more information on all Cansa Shavathon-related activities, visit https://shavathon.org.za/