Designed to appeal to women and men across the world, breast cancer were looked at from the perspectives of the patient (both the newly diagnosed and those with metastatic spread), the survivor, partner, family, community, breast cancer activist and health professional.
Celebrating this first for Cape Town and widening the reach of the awareness campaign around breast cancer, motorcyclists biked from the Conference to Plettenberg Bay, joining the Garden Route HOGS on their Two Passes Rally, under the banner of Ride4Recovery. The ride in essence is about people from all walks of life coming together to spread the word that cancer is not a death sentence and that early detection is essential to save even more lives.
The route followed the scenic N2 en route to Plettenberg Bay, making several interesting stops along the way. En route to Mossel Bay, Magda Geldenhuys had a close encounter near PetroSA, when a truck pushed her off the road and into the barriers. Luckily, no damage to her or her motorbike was done, although she arrived shivering from shock in Mossel Bay.
According to the South African Medical Journal, an estimated 8 000 South African women alone are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
The statistics are staggering, but with proper education, knowledge about examining your own breasts and awareness around red flags, the survival rate is rising annually. The drive for awareness needs to be a constant reminder, a waving flag of vigilance, knowledge and above all, hope.
Ride4Recovery riders arrived at Mossel Bay very early on Saturday morning. Photo: Tersia Marais
