Lace up this World Cancer Day and stand in solidarity with cancer patients to raise vital funds to help patients access much-needed palliative care and holistic support. The popular Lace Up for Cancer run is back this year after a pause during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Taking place on Saturday, 4 February 2023 at the Anura wine estate in Klapmuts, Stellenbosch, the event is a family-friendly affair with something for everyone. It includes a 3km and 5km walk and a 10km run.
The revival of the event was made possible by the leading sponsor, Life Healthcare, in support of the three partner organisations, the NGO Hospice Palliative Care Association (HPCA), the Cancer Alliance and the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).
While raising funds to support the three partner organisations, the event also provides an important platform to raise awareness across South Africa; around this disease and the access to the vital care needed.

Project Manager of Cancer Alliance, Salomé Meyer said, “The Cancer Alliance banner brings together all the cancer non-profit organisations as a united voice to commemorate World Cancer Day. Cancer is an important non-communicable disease that needs dedicated planning and management. In South Africa the disparities between the access to care for the medically insured and uninsured are a stark reality and many cancer patients do not receive timeous diagnosis and care. The Lace Up for Cancer event is an opportunity for us to bring together cancer survivors, their families, caregivers and cancer advocates, whilst raising funds to help cancer NPOs continue to provide their vital services.”
Leigh Meinert, the Advocacy and Operations Manager at HPCA adds, “This event is a cause close to our heart as our hospice members care for thousands of cancer patients per year. From our member hospices that submit patient statistics to us, the numbers reached over 4,000 for cancer patients supported by hospices. This does not take into consideration the many 1,000’s that are assisted and not recorded on central databases.
“However, despite the importance of palliative care being available from diagnosis to any individual diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, we find that this care is often misunderstood and considered to be ‘end-of-life’ care. Every opportunity that we get to communicate to people that palliative care is holistic care provided to anyone from the point of diagnosis, is an opportunity that we gratefully seize. The more people who know that they can contact hospice from their initial diagnosis and be supported throughout the course of their treatment, the more people who can be supported on their cancer journey – be it curative or terminal.”

The last update to the South African National Cancer Registry was in 2019, with the total number of cancer cases reported across the population being 85,373 – an increase of 3,728 from the previous registry update in 2017.
Meyer said, “Cancer in South Africa is increasing drastically. It is only with dedicated and collaborative effort that we will be able to ensure sustainable cancer care for all moving forward. We need to Stand Up and Speak Up so that our collective voices are heard by policy makers.”
Lans Pepler, the organiser of this year’s event said that Lace Up for Cancer is a family event which brings communities together to be educated on early detection programmes while also doing something practical to help lower the cancer risk (physical movement).
Elize Joubert, CEO of CANSA said, “Early detection is key to overcoming a cancer diagnosis. However, people who live in remote areas don’t always have access to information on how to lower their cancer risk or cancer screening. An event such as Lace Up for Cancer raises funds to assist us in our focus on closing the gap in cancer care by partnering with organisations and civic groups to make cancer information and screening accessible.
“CANSA Care Homes provide a home-away-from-home, including meals and transport to patients who live far away from treatment centres. This makes it possible for patients, who would otherwise not be able to, to receive treatment. We also offer free counselling through our Tele Counselling service, in seven languages, as well as Tele Stoma support making counselling and this level of support accessible to all. The CANSA website also provides free online resources and links to support groups for cancer patients, caregivers and loved ones. All fundraising efforts go a long way.”
Torsten Koehler, a testicular cancer survivor shares his dark and lonely journey of being diagnosed back in 1995, struggling to find any other testicular cancer survivor to talk to about his thoughts, feelings and fears.
Koehler adds, “Typically, men don’t talk and we suffer in silence. Something like a run makes it easy for someone like me to join and make other men aware of testicular cancer, to encourage them to look after their health and to show that it is not embarrassing to talk about testicular cancer, your feelings and your fears. It’s 2023 – nobody should walk this journey alone!”
Dr Louis Kathan, Chief Medical Officer of Life Healthcare – South Africa says that the Life Healthcare Group are very proud to be supporting the event this year in helping worthy organisations in their mission to improve cancer care.
The Life Healthcare Group understands the importance of cancer prevention, early diagnosis and access to treatment through its dedicated oncology and radiotherapy services.
- Event: Lace Up for Cancer Run/Walk
- Date: Saturday, 4 February 2023 at 7.30am
- Location: Anura wine estate in Klapmuts, Stellenbosch
- Entry fee: From R100 / Children under 12 participate for free.
- To register, go to: Lace Up for Cancer Run/Walk
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Picture: Supplied