CANSA Newsletter – July 2017

    CANSA’s Kidney Cancer Fact Sheet(pdf)

·         World Kidney Cancer Q&A Backgrounder (pdf)

·         World Kidney Cancer Day Q&A Photo(jpg)

 ·         World Kidney Cancer Q&A Day Logo (jpg)

·         World Kidney Cancer Day Q&A Photo 2 (jpg)

 

First-Ever World Kidney Cancer Q&A Day Celebrated Worldwide

 

People around the world are asking questions and seeking answers to help fight #KidneyCancer

Kidney cancer is a serious disease that affects hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.  However, very few people in South Africa know even the basics about kidney cancer – what causes it, how to lower the risk, or why it’s on the rise.

The global incidence of kidney cancer is predicted to rise by a shocking 22 percent by 2020. Populations are aging, known risk factors like obesity and high blood pressure are increasing, and smoking continues to be prevalent in many parts of the world. In fact, in South Africa, the most latest cancer statistics show that just over 600 individuals were diagnosed with kidney cancer – 98 of which were children under the age of 19. When it’s caught early, kidney cancer can be treated, but in advanced stages, kidney cancer is still a lethal disease in search of better answers.

That is why the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) is joining forces with kidney cancer organisations around the world to mark the first-ever World Kidney Cancer Q&A Day.  On 22 June, #WorldKidneyCancerDay, patients, caregivers, health care professionals and local organisations across the country and worldwide will be uniting to raise awareness for the disease. See link to fact sheet http://www.cansa.org.za/files/2017/06/Fact-Sheet-Kidney-Cancer-NCR-2012-web-June-2017.pdf

“Making a significant difference in the lives of patients starts by increasing awareness – knowing the symptoms, knowing treatment options and knowing where to find support,” says CANSA CEO, Elize Joubert.

“Medical experts agree there is an opportunity for global collaboration to raise awareness about kidney cancer – because when we all work together we are stronger and can have a greater impact than we can alone.”

World Kidney Cancer Q&A Quiz

As part of the World Kidney Cancer Q&A Day, the International Kidney Cancer Coalition has launched the World Kidney Cancer Day Q&A Quiz. It’s an interactive, seven-question quiz that tests what you know – and what you need to know – about kidney cancer.  It’s about promoting greater awareness about this type of cancer.

“Despite the effect kidney cancer has on patients and health care systems around the globe, it is a little-known type of cancer with many unanswered questions related to risk reduction, risk factors, treatment practices and widening gaps in mortality rates,” says Dr. Rachel Giles, Chair, International Kidney Cancer Coalition.  “Not only will the quiz help teach people more about the disease, but the funds raised will be directed to a high-priority research project that will benefit patients worldwide.”

For every quiz that’s completed online, $5 will be donated to help find answers to vital questions about kidney cancer. The quiz is available in a variety of languages, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Polish, Greek and Arabic.  Click here to take the quiz https://worldkidneycancerday.org/

Great Voice for a Great Cause

Globally-recognised celebrity and humanitarian Juliet Ibrahim is the campaign’s Global Ambassador.

“Just like art, kidney cancer knows no boundaries.  Working together – sharing our experience and our knowledge – we make a difference for the people affected by kidney cancer,” says Juliet. Learn more about the Juliet Ibrahim Foundation and the hope it gives to kidney cancer patients throughout Africa.

World Kidney Cancer Q&A Day has been established by the International Kidney Cancer Coalition, a global body of 30 cancer organisations focused on improving the lives of people affected by kidney cancer.  CANSA is an affiliate member of IKCC since 2015 and was part of the establishment of World Kidney Cancer Day through Prof Michael Herbst, CANSA’s Health Specialist who is a Board Member and Director.

ENDS

(For more information, please contact Esti Lindner, Marketing and Communication Coordinator at CANSA at email [email protected]. Call 011 616 7662 or cell: 072 529 6082. You can visit www.cansa.org.za or call CANSA toll-free 0800 22 66 22 or email: [email protected].)

About the International Kidney Cancer Coalition

The International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC) is an independent network of 30 patient organisations from around the world.  Founded in 2014, the organisation was born from a very strong desire among various national patient groups to network, cooperate and share materials, knowledge, and experiences. It is IKCC’s mission to empower and represent the kidney cancer community through advocacy, awareness, information and research.

For more information about the International Kidney Cancer Coalition, please visit www.ikcc.org.

Help CANSA Cycle Tours Reduce Cancer Risk & Fund Patient Support

Two cycle tours from Gauteng to CPT will be raising important awareness regarding cancer, reducing cancer risk and raising funds for support of cancer patients and loved ones.

On the 3rd March 2017, 11 cyclists gathered at the Grasmere Plaza just outside Johannesburg, to kick off the ‘Tour of Light Cycle Tour’ to Cape Town in support of CANSA, just over 1 400 km’s away. Read more…

 
The tour with its back-up vehicles sponsored by Europcar will see the cyclists ride from Grasmere to Kroonstad on the first day, and then on to Bloemfontein on the second. From there they will ride through Colesberg, Richmond, Beaufort West, Matjiesfontein, Paarl and finally end off in Cape Town on 10 March 2017.
 

Founder of the Tour, Cecilia Hiemstra, who was diagnosed with leukaemia adds, “Our aim is to spread light and hope to others and raise awareness for CANSA. Two other cyclists who have conquered cancer, Ray Funnell and Lawrence Brittain, will also taking part.”

The Tour includes visits to hospitals and cancer treatment centres on the route, including the CANSA Katleho Care Home in Bloemfontein. When the team arrives in Cape Town, cyclists will be accompanied by other riders who have overcome cancer, to the finish line at Caffe Neo, opposite the lighthouse in Seapoint.

The tour will be concluded with a celebration fundraising gala dinner on 10 March 2017. Funds raised will go towards CANSA’s care and support services, including the CANSA Cape Metro Care Centre in Mowbray.

The guest speaker is South Africa’s hero and inspiration Lawrence Brittain, who overcame Hodgkin’s disease and won a silver medal for rowing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Carletonville to Cape Town Cycle Tour

The Carletonville to CPT Cycle Tour for CANSA’s 85th  Anniversary, is all about showing support for cancer Survivors & helping to reducing cancer risk, by raising awareness along the way. Read more…

Cancer Survivors will be top of mind for the team of riders who are going to cycle close to 1 500 km in 12 days.

“It’s not just about cycling for these riders,” says Lucy Balona, one of the cyclist team and CANSA’s Head of Marketing and Communication. “Almost without exception, each participant has been affected by cancer in some way. This is our way of making a difference for cancer Survivors by not only raising funds but also raising awareness of how to lower the cancer risk and to show support for cancer Survivors.”

Organiser Navarre Kruger, who is based in Carletonville says that the team, who is funding itself, has raised just over R105 000 through sponsorships and donations. This money will go to CANSA’s care and support services, including the CANSA Care Centre in Carletonville.

 

  
The tour, with its two back-up vehicles sponsored byTempest Car Hire and South32 and support members, left Carletonville on 25 February and will arrive in Cape Town on 8 March. After a few days of rest, they will then tackle the Cape Town Cycle Tour on 12 March 2017.

Help CANSA Cycle Tours Reduce Cancer Risk & Fund Patient Support

Two cycle tours from Gauteng to CPT will be raising important awareness regarding cancer, reducing cancer risk and raising funds for support of cancer patients and loved ones.

On the 3rd March 2017, 11 cyclists gathered at the Grasmere Plaza just outside Johannesburg, to kick off the ‘Tour of Light Cycle Tour’ to Cape Town in support of CANSA, just over 1 400 km’s away. Read more…

 
The tour with its back-up vehicles sponsored by Europcar will see the cyclists ride from Grasmere to Kroonstad on the first day, and then on to Bloemfontein on the second. From there they will ride through Colesberg, Richmond, Beaufort West, Matjiesfontein, Paarl and finally end off in Cape Town on 10 March 2017.
 

Founder of the Tour, Cecilia Hiemstra, who was diagnosed with leukaemia adds, “Our aim is to spread light and hope to others and raise awareness for CANSA. Two other cyclists who have conquered cancer, Ray Funnell and Lawrence Brittain, will also taking part.”

The Tour includes visits to hospitals and cancer treatment centres on the route, including the CANSA Katleho Care Home in Bloemfontein. When the team arrives in Cape Town, cyclists will be accompanied by other riders who have overcome cancer, to the finish line at Caffe Neo, opposite the lighthouse in Seapoint.

The tour will be concluded with a celebration fundraising gala dinner on 10 March 2017. Funds raised will go towards CANSA’s care and support services, including the CANSA Cape Metro Care Centre in Mowbray.

The guest speaker is South Africa’s hero and inspiration Lawrence Brittain, who overcame Hodgkin’s disease and won a silver medal for rowing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Carletonville to Cape Town Cycle Tour

The Carletonville to CPT Cycle Tour for CANSA’s 85th  Anniversary, is all about showing support for cancer Survivors & helping to reducing cancer risk, by raising awareness along the way. Read more…

Cancer Survivors will be top of mind for the team of riders who are going to cycle close to 1 500 km in 12 days.

“It’s not just about cycling for these riders,” says Lucy Balona, one of the cyclist team and CANSA’s Head of Marketing and Communication. “Almost without exception, each participant has been affected by cancer in some way. This is our way of making a difference for cancer Survivors by not only raising funds but also raising awareness of how to lower the cancer risk and to show support for cancer Survivors.”

Organiser Navarre Kruger, who is based in Carletonville says that the team, who is funding itself, has raised just over R105 000 through sponsorships and donations. This money will go to CANSA’s care and support services, including the CANSA Care Centre in Carletonville.

 

  
The tour, with its two back-up vehicles sponsored byTempest Car Hire and South32 and support members, left Carletonville on 25 February and will arrive in Cape Town on 8 March. After a few days of rest, they will then tackle the Cape Town Cycle Tour on 12 March 2017.

CANSA – Newsletter February 2017

CYCLING FROM CARLETONVILLE TO CAPE TOWN FOR CANSA

 

  
   

 

The first quarter of 2017 will see 14 cyclists participating in the Carletonville to Cape Town cycle tour to raise funds and awareness for the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) in the Association’s 85th anniversary year.

“It’s not just about cycling for these riders,” says Lucy Balona, CANSA’s Head of Marketing and Communication. “Almost without exception, each participant has been affected by cancer in some way. This is their way of making a difference for cancer survivors by not only raising funds, but also raising awareness of how to lower the cancer risk and to show support for cancer survivors.”

Balona, who will be taking part says that it’s this type of passion and participation that CANSA encouraged on World Cancer Day on Saturday, 4 February. “The theme of the three-year World Cancer Day campaign is ‘We Can, I Can’ and explores how everyone, individually or in teams, can help to reduce the impact of cancer on individuals, families and communities.”

Riding 1 500 km’s – Cape Town 25 February to 8 March 2017

Cancer survivors will be top of mind for the team of riders who are going to cycle close to   1 500km in 12 days. Organiser Navarre Kruger, who is based in Carletonville says that the team, who is funding itself, has raised almost R200 000 through sponsorships and donations.

“We still have a short while to go, and we’re confident that we’ll beat the targets set by the team”,  he says. This money will go to CANSA’s care and support services, including the CANSA Care Centre in Carletonville. (http://www.cansa.org.za/cansa-care-centres-contact-details/)

The tour, with its two back-up vehicles sponsored by Tempest Car Hire and South32 and support members, will leave Carletonville on 25 February and will arrive in Cape Town on8 March. After a few days of rest, they will then tackle the Cape Town Cycle Tour on 12 March. To see the list of riders and route, please visit:

(http://www.cansa.org.za/files/2017/01/Carletonville-to-CPT-CANSA-Cycle-Tour-2017-Journey-Plan.pdf)

The team has been getting fit for the event, with weekly team spinning classes, social rides over weekends and some members successfully completing to date, the Telkom 947 Cycle challenge, PPA Mangaung Cycle Tour, Amashova Durban Classic Race, BestMed Satellite Classic as well as the Springbok Plant Hire Wind Down Challenge.

Generous sponsors to date include South32, Life Occupational Health Services, KWS, Kuvula Trade, Actom, ABB, Ergomax, Amayez and QMuzik.

Balona and Kruger may be contacted for more information on the tour and how to support it on 076 620 6785 or email [email protected]. Donations can be made securely and easily online at https://www.givengain.com/ap/2017CANSACycleTour/

ENDS

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact Lucy Balona, Head: Marketing and Communication at CANSA at[email protected]; or on 011 616 7662 or 082 459 5230.

Visit www.cansa.org.za or contact CANSA toll-free 0800226622 or at [email protected]. Follow CANSA on Twitter: @CANSA (http://www.twitter.com/@CANSA), on Instagram (http://instagram.com/cancerassociationofsouthafrica) and join CANSA on Facebook:CANSAThe Cancer Association of South Africa

ABOUT CANSA

CANSA offers a unique integrated service to the public and to all people affected by cancer. As a leading role-player in cancer research (more than R12 million spent annually), the scientific findings and knowledge gained from our research are used to realign our health programmes, as well as strengthen our watchdog role to the greater benefit of the public. Our health programmes comprise health and education campaigns; CANSA Care Centres that offer a wide range of care and support services to those affected by cancer; stoma and other clinical support and organisational management; medical equipment hire, as well as a toll-free line to offer information and support. We also supply patient care and support in the form of 12 CANSA Care Homes in the main metropolitan areas for out-of-town cancer patients; a hospitium based in Polokwane; and CANSA-TLC lodging for parents and guardians of children undergoing cancer treatment.