Cancervive 2015 encourages conversations about cancer

This year, the 5th annual Cancervive Awareness Ride takes to the road from 10 - 20 September, with the main aim of getting communities across the country talking about cancer.

An entourage of more than 65 cancer survivors, supporters, media and emergency services will embark on a 2,300km route, stopping over in towns to educate its residents on how to detect cancer at an early stage, and how to gain access to appropriate treatment.

This survivor-driven project uses performing arts, music, poetry, dance and storytelling to convey personal messages of survival. There are many people in this country that know very little to nothing about cancer and when faced with survivors on stage relaying their stories, personal insights are given on how to identify or even prevent cancer.

Vital information

The group aims to do more than just provide facts about the disease - they also actively encourage conversations around it. Vital information on the various 'shy' cancers (that of the breast, prostate, testicles, cervix, ovaries and colon) are shared and discussed, and the visited communities are left better equipped to identify warning signs and care for cancer patients in their midst.

"Being diagnosed with cancer has an enormous impact on your life," says Janie du Plessis, CEO of People Living With Cancer. "We aim to make people diagnosed feel that they are not alone, and let them know that many cancers have a very high survival rate if caught early enough. We also don't leave them without support, but connect them to Cancer Buddies, a project that assists patients and their families through diagnosis and treatment."

Over the past four years, the ride entertained, engaged and educated more than 180,000 people across eight provinces and in seven languages through travels over a distance of 10,000km.

SPAR and Revlon return to the fray as headline sponsors of the ride, with Triumph Motorcycles, Caltex, Imperial Ford & Mazda, Meadow Feeds and Netcare 911 also contributing to the cause.

Cancervive 2015 aims to encourage conversations about cancer, removing stigmas and creating support for those affected by it. Through answering questions, sharing and listening to stories of survival and conveying facts about the disease, the battle against it is halfway won.