Pink Trees for Pauline once again wrapped trees in Kromboom Road, Athlone, with pink material as part of its annual efforts to create cancer awareness (“Pink puts spotlight on cancer awareness” Athlone News, Wednesday September 21).
The project honoured all those who had succumbed to cancer as well as those who have survived the disease.
September is Child Cancer Awareness Month.
The seed of the campaign was planted in 2012 when founder of the organisation, Carol Ann van Jaarsveld, dedicated the project to her mother and grandmother – both of whom were named Pauline – and who both died of cancer.
The fabric used to wrap the trees was given to participating organisations by Pink Trees for Pauline to sell, with the money from these sales being donated to the Cansa’s Eikehof Care Home in Athlone.
Last year more than R13 000 was raised to cover the running costs of the care home, including transport which is the biggest cost for the home at the moment.
Michelle Hill, co-ordinator of the Cansa Eikehof Care Home, said many people who were living with cancer felt isolated, having to fight the disease on their own – and many were shy to speak about their condition.
“We want to say that we are here to support them, and they are not alone. Raising awareness also brings about early detection, which will allow them to go for treatment sooner and still live a productive life,” she said.
She said they had opted to wrap trees along Kromboom Road because last year the material had been removed from the trees in Klipfontein Road.
“A lot of people frequent here and sit in the park, and it is on the corner of Kromboom and Jan Smuts roads so people will see it,” she said.
Ward 49 councillor Rashid Adams said communities needed to be educated about cancer as there were many stigmas attached to it.
“Young people believe that they cannot get sick and they won’t get old, so we need to start talking about this and create an awareness that it can affect anybody and everybody,” he said.