Bushbuckridge News

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Journey of Hope

Polokwane to Bela Bela

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Journey of Hope

It is important for NGO’s, the government and the private sector to work together in creating breast cancer awareness in the communities. This is a message that was raised during our breakfast at the Limpopo Guest Manor with the Executive Mayor of Polokwane Municipality, Cllr Freddy Greaver, the Executive Mayor of the Capricorn District Municipality, Cllr Makgabo Mapoulo, representatives from the Department of Health and CANSA and other esteemed guests. The Journey of Hope plants a seed of awareness in the communities we pass through but that seed needs to be nurtured by the powers that be in these communities in order for it to grow. We are sure that in Polokwane it will do so thanks to the enthusiasm of all parties involved.

To create awareness you need to first get the attention of your audience and a group of motorcyclists rumbling down the street is bound to do this. It is one of the factors that makes the Journey of Hope successful. Today we were joined by the Polokwane Biking Community who led a procession of people marching in honour of breast cancer awareness down Devenish Street to the Seshego Taxi Rank in Polokwane where the Journey of Hope Riders, hosted by Patty Kgobe from Labelle Magazine and Lebyane from Motswako, shared their stories.

Raising important issues in front of a crowd sometimes elicits extraordinary responses from the audience and today was such a day. Part of our team was hosted for breakfast by the Mokopane Pick n Pay where a man, sceptical at the start of our presentation, came forward afterwards raising concerns about his own breast health. A number of learners at Piet Potgieter High School also had an emotional response and a man at one of our petrol stops felt comfortable to open up and ask advice from our riders about a concern he’s been having with a growth on his chest.

At Modimolle we donated water sponsored by Pick n Pay to the audience as well as bras’s donated by Deloitte GIS. Thanks to Ebeth du Bruyn, Ingrid Blignault and Esme du Plooy for arranging this.

It really feels as if our momentum is growing and it’s disappointing in a way to think that we are already more than half way through our Journey. But every journey must come to an end and we near the end of ours knowing that lives have been touched and that we will continue spreading our message of hope even once the ride is over.

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Thohoyandou to Polokwane

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Journey of Hope

Yesterday we were truly embraced by the community of Thohoyandou. We started the day with a media briefing held at the Khoroni Hotel where we were staying. We were joined by Mrs Kate Booi, Head of the Oncology ward at Donald Fraser Hospital, as well as a number of nurses and representatives from the Department of Health. We all travelled together to Mvusuludzo Mall where a community event had been arranged for the Journey of Hope riders to share their stories. A number of NGO’s , ten local breast cancer survivors and nurses from Univen (University of Venda) joined the group and one of the local breast cancer survivor, Mrs Joyce Gavhi, shared her story with the audience too. Thohoyandou ward councillor, Ms Joyce Bulala, was present and read a speech on behalf of the Mayor. Heavy-T from Univen FM co-hosted the event with our MC Karl and together they got the crowd going. Two mobile clinics, one from the Department of Health and one from Univen, were made available offering free checkups to the audience. After the event the guests and riders enjoyed refreshments sponsored by Thohoyandou Pick n Pay.

It was gratifying to see the efforts being put in by the government and NGO’s to spread awareness about breast cancer and we greatly appreciated their support.

From Thohoyandou our group kitted up and rode to Polokwane via Makhado where we stopped for the night to rest, refresh, and prepare for the next leg of our Journey of Hope.

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The Daily Sun

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Journey of Hope

Tzaneen and Giyani

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Journey of Hope

Something that has been truly notable during our travels thus far is the warmth and hospitality shown to us by the people of the communities we are travelling through. The vast majority of our meals and accommodation has been generously sponsored by hotels and restaurants along our route and so has our fuel. On top of that we have been graciously escorted almost the entire route by the local traffic and police departments who have blocked off traffic, pedestrians and straying cattle to let our procession pass smoothly through. Last night the Tzaneen Business Chamber hosted a dinner in our honour and presented the Journey of Hope with a donation towards our cause.

Today we were greeted not only by breathtaking scenery as we travelled through Magoebaskloof and surrounds, but also by breathtaking enthusiasm from the learners at Stanford Lake College, Merensky Agricultural High School and Giyani High School who we visited during the course of the day. It was wonderful to be able to share our message with such open minded and inquisitive audience. It came as a surprise to many learners that men can get breast cancer too, and that cancer does not just affect older people but that anyone is vulnerable and should examine their bodies regularly for irregularities. Representatives from CANSA accompanied us to the schools and gave their valuable input as well.

While the sun has been hot and the road rough, the gracious reception we have received has shown us that our vision can truly be realised and that communities can be reached. We continue forward with renewed vigour and reawakened appreciation for the generosity of the human spirit.

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The Journey Begins

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Journey of Hope

Spirits were high as members of the Journey of Hope Breast Cancer Awareness ride pulled out of Pretoria yesterday morning in a flurry of pink biking gear and growling motorcycle engines. Family, friends and supporters waved them off on the start of their 10 day journey across the northern parts of South Africa where they will be spreading awareness about breast cancer to rural communities.

The purpose of the Journey of Hope ride is to convey a positive and hopeful message regarding breast cancer in a unique and vibrant way. This is done through a group of breast cancer survivors travelling on Honda motorcycles and sharing the stories of their individual battles with breast cancer whilst highlighting the importance of early detection. This year the team is joined by two male breast cancer survivors who are sharing the message that men can get breast cancer too.

Day one saw the group travelling from Pretoria to Hazyview via Emalahleni and Waterval Boven. They were escorted by Think Bike marshals and joined en route by various biking communities who rode along for part of the route to show their support. At Waterval Boven the Survivors addressed the local community on the importance of early detection of breast cancer. “It is important for people to know that breast cancer can be treated, and it can be beaten, as long as it is detected early enough,” said Timothy Mlenje, breast cancer survivor and member of the 2011 Journey of Hope Team. “They also need to know that state funding is available for treatment in cases where the patient can’t afford to pay. Many women will avoid visiting the clinic for financial reasons,” he explained.

Today the Journey of Hope riders hit the open road again travelling from Hazyview to Tzaneen via Pilgrims Rest, Graskop and Blyde River. Presentations were given at The Oaks clinic and at the Maake Centre in Tzaneen.

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