Reach for Recovery’s Beulah Jankelowitz, accepts the handover cheques at the 2012 SPAR Joburg Challenge. Olympic Bronze Medalist Bridgitte Hartley assisted SPAR South Rand’s Managing Director Brett Botten with the handover. Photo: Reg Caldecott
Cancer is a scourge that appears to be on the rise.
The most common form among women is breast cancer, with about one in nine South African women likely to suffer the disease, which is no respecter of boundaries. Women of all races and all classes are susceptible.
But the good news is that caught early, breast cancer is one of the most treatable forms of the disease, and is far from a death sentence.
Among the treatments for breast cancer are chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, which could involve either, removing only the lump or else a complete mastectomy.
This is where the support group Reach for Recovery comes in. An international organisation, Reach for Recovery was started in South Africa in 1967, and there are 20 branches in South Africa.
Chairperson of the Johannesburg Branch, Beulah Jankelowitz, explains that Reach for Recovery is a support group for breast cancer patients, which provides emotional and physical support.
All the counsellors are trained breast cancer survivors, who are able to understand the feelings of the newly-diagnosed patient.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Reach for Recovery is once again the designated beneficiary for the Spar Women’s 10km Challenge and 5km Fun Run at the Wanderers on Sunday, October 13, with a portion of all entry fees going to the support group.
So do your bit to fight the scourge of cancer by taking part in the Spar Joburg Challenge. The first 15 000 entrants will receive a free race t-shirt, and the first 15 000 to finish the race will receive a medal and a goodie bag… and perhaps you will be the one to win the lucky draw for a brand new Nissan Micra.
For more Spar Women’s Challenge news, click here.
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