MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The community and people of Mossel Bay and surrounds have, through the successful and massive local CANSA Relay For Life event where almost R370 000 has been raised, taken the lead in the Southern Cape/Karoo Region with the ongoing fight against the wide and serious impact of cancer on the lives of most South African families.

Top SA performer
According to Maria Scholtz, General Manager of CANSA Relay For Life in SA, with this amount Mossel Bay’s Relay proved itself as a star performer and almost surprisingly leaped into the top 5 national fundraising Relay events - of which 107 are planned to be presented all over South Africa in CANSA’s present financial year.
She further mentioned that Mossel Bay’s Relay is, after East London, the leading Relay fundraiser in the Cape Province.
Starting with a modest Relay event goal of only R70 000 in 2009 and achieving an outstanding amount of R202 000 in year one, Mossel Bay’s Relay, at an early stage, set the tone for the future and for the Southern Cape/Karoo region and even the Western Cape to effectively raise funds for the fight against cancer.

Record entries
Freddie Faul, chair of the local Relay’s organising committee of volunteers since its inception, says that the R370 000 raised has even surprised the committee members, many of whom burst into tears after the initial amount of over R362 000 was announced early Sunday morning at the end of the 14 hour long walk.
He added: "After the goal of R255 000 for this year was set, we realised that it could be difficult to achieve because times are tough. However, when a record-breaking 60 official teams and 14 spinning teams paid their fees to enter, we started hoping to reach our goal."

Public’s support
He continued and said that the reason for the success of Mossel Bay’s Relay is mainly twofold. "Firstly, we believe that the public at large is becoming more and more aware of the growing and life-threatening extent of cancer as a serious disease and killer and the necessity of raising funds to enable CANSA to continue with its cancer research and its wide-ranging services to educate, assist and support the public in the fight against cancer.

I can add that in this regard, the Mossel Bay Advertiser and Group Editors are media partners without comparison."
Mr Faul further explained that the second reason for the Relay’s success can be found in the overwhelming support and growing enthusiasm of the communities of Mossel Bay and all the surrounding towns and areas to participate in the Relay as a challenging, yet enjoyable lifestyle event for old and young. "We were amazed by the ingenuity of teams to raise funds beforehand and during the Relay. At all levels the initiatives received the support of schools, church groups, organisations, institutions, businesses, individuals and the public.

"We, as organising committee can only say thank you very, very much for all your wonderful support, ideas and sponsorships.

And a special word of appreciation to South African celebrities such as Wilna Snyman, Jakkie Louw, Jana du Plessis and all our local artists who participated and entertained to enhance the Relay experience."
* In the weeks to come a series of articles will appear in the Advertiser to inform the public on the role of CANSA in our local communities and what the monies raised in the local CANSA Relay For Life are used for.


Een van die Mosselbaai Relay4Life komiteelede, Marinda Muller, het 'n spesiale CANSA 80-koek gebak. Laatnag gedurende die Relay het eregaste Jakkie Louw en Jana du Plessis die kerse aangesteek en die groot koek is in klein blokkies gesny en wyd uitgedeel. Hier, links van Jana, om saam te eet en te vier, is Minette van Zyl van CANSA en komiteelede Marinda Muller en Denise Lloyd. Regs van Jakkie is komiteelede Anne Pheiffer en Heleen Coetsee.