Maties Sport will host a Pink Night Run on 8 October, at the Coetzenburg B Field, Stellenbosch, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The aim of the 8km run is to create awareness around breast cancer while encouraging Stellenbosch University (SU) students and the broader community to stay active, said Anche Nortje, the senior sport manager for Maties Hockey and the Recreation and Active Lifestyle Unit (RALU).
Maties Sport is hosting a Pink Night Run on 8 October, in support of breast cancer awareness Month. The starting point of this run is at the Coetzenburg B Field, in Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Kuhle Mangana
“We hope the event will encourage people to come together, support the cause and through the message on the back of the event shirts – “Run for them” – recognise the many people whose lives have been affected by breast cancer,” Nortje said.
“The truth is that breast cancer can affect anyone, and not every breast cancer presents as a lump,” said Stephanie van Deventer, the national manager of Reach for Recovery.
Reach for Recovery is a non-profit organisation (NPO) in South Africa that provides free emotional and practical support to breast cancer patients and their families.
Van Deventer added that they recommend people check their breasts regularly and pay attention to changes in the size, shape, appearance, or feel of them. The changes should not be ignored and should be assessed by a healthcare professional, she said.
Reach for Recovery, a non-profit organisation, educates people on what they need to look out for when it comes to breast cancer. PHOTO: Supplied/Reach for Recovery
“Ultimately, the success of Breast Cancer Awareness Month should not only be measured by how much pink we see. It should be measured by the conversations we start, the people who learn to recognise changes, the patients who receive support, the volunteers who step forward and the practical difference we make in people’s lives,” said Deventer.
Rentia Robbertze, a breast cancer patient, shared a similar sentiment.
“I think events like the Maties Pink Run are incredibly important because they create visibility and remind people that breast cancer is not just something that happens to someone else, as I said, it can happen to anyone,” said Robbertze.
Robbertze, an occupational therapist who treats breast cancer patients at Winelands Oncology, said that access to treatment is important. She said that every woman deserves to get treatment and rehabilitation.
“I would love to see that awareness translate into practical change. [Not] just to get a scan. There is a lot of breast cancer awareness that focuses on getting the [breast] scan [done], but what happens afterwards?” asked Robbertze.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2023, and started cancer treatment in January 2024, with six months of chemotherapy.
She said even healthy people can get breast cancer, as was the case with her.
There are many ways that one can help raise awareness about breast cancer, according to Reach for Recovery. PHOTO: Supplied/Reach for Recovery
For the event, Maties Sport is working with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). CANSA is an NPO that has been a leader in the fight against cancer since 1931. They will be at the event to provide information and assist in answering relevant questions from participants who may want to learn more about breast cancer awareness, prevention, and support, said Nortje.