Gallery Video
MOSSEL BAY NEWS & VIDEO - A group of elderly Mossel Bay residents enjoyed a model show and informative speeches on Friday, 16 October, to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Several types of cancer were discussed at the function, not only breast cancer.
The residents at the ACVV Kenani Service Centre in Heiderand were treated to a top class show by models from Gemini Model & Talent Agency.
The models wore formal dresses from Crazy Creatures boutique. Owner of Gemini, Frieda van der Walt, even succeeded in sourcing a wedding gown, owned by a cancer survivor, for the show.
The models were professional and walked well. The youngest model was aged 14 and there were two models in their 60s.
Photo gallery: ACVV Kenani Service Centre learns about cancer
There was not a single wardrobe or other glitch in the show, which went off smoothly and was rewarded with hearty applause. Pink dresses were chosen for the show in order to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the hall was decorated in pink.
Watch a video below:
Brave speaker
One of the models, René Hall, who was diagnosed on Thursday, 8 October, with terminal cancer, was brave enough to give a talk on her experience with the disease. Her husband died of cancer recently and she spoke of how the two of them had chosen not to have chemotherapy.
She said doctors had said it was a miracle her husband had lived so much longer than had been projected and that he had only needed pain medication near the end of his battle with the disease. Most patients would have been on morphine, doctors had said.
When René agreed to speak at the event, she had stage 5 cancer, but when diagnosed as terminal she kept to her word and still modelled and gave her speech.
Annette Strydom, who is the ACVV events manager and works closely with the elderly, was the master of ceremonies at the event and kept everyone entertained with her gentle jokes and positive stance on life. She also played the piano. Leonie Petersen, one of the models, sang two rousing songs.
CANSA services co-ordinator and social worker Lee-anne Roeloffze and CANSA volunteer Maxie Willemse both gave speeches.
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
