Northern towns walk to conquer cancer

• Ongwediva hosts event for the first time
Walkers, runners and volunteers came together to honour cancer survivors, raise awareness about reducing cancer risks and raise money to bring hope to cancer patients.
Tuyeimo Haidula
A walk to conquer cancer, known as the National Cancer Walk, is a long-standing annual fundraiser that brings hundreds of people together each year.

Those living in northern Namibia participated for the first time ever on Saturday in an event organised by PathCare, Ongwediva Medipark and the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN).

Walkers, runners and volunteers come together to honour cancer survivors, raise awareness about reducing cancer risk and raise money to bring hope to cancer patients.

Participating towns - Windhoek, Rehoboth, Otjiwarongo, Tsumeb, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Henties Bay, Outjo, Ongwediva and Keetmanshoop - all hosted walks on the day, with all funds raised directly benefitting CAN projects, which include palliative care for patients.

The money collected will also help fund innovative research, support patients and spread the word about prevention.

Standing together

About 100 people from Ongwediva, Oshakati and Ondangwa gathered at the hospital for the event. The walk was aimed at raising awareness about cancer and cancer-related illnesses and to show support to all cancer patients across the country.

PathCare Ongwediva laboratory manager Shanice Biggar said the walk was a success and they are considering making it an annual event in northern Namibia.

She added that everyone knows someone affected by cancer and standing together makes the load slightly more bearable.

“We have lost a lot of people and our loved ones to the disease. Many people who live in our communities have cancer and this is just to metaphorically say ‘we support you, we are there for you’. This walk says ‘on this journey, we are there and we’re thinking about you. And we do care about you’,” she said.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-21

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