The Early Act Club of Victoria Primary School hosted its annual two-day Cansa Shavathon in Grahamstown. The first day,Friday 6 March, gave pupils a chance to have their hair sprayed at school, while Saturday 7 March was opened to the public.
The Early Act Club of Victoria Primary School hosted its annual two-day Cansa Shavathon in Grahamstown. The first day,Friday 6 March, gave pupils a chance to have their hair sprayed at school, while Saturday 7 March was opened to the public.
The Cansa Shavathon open event was held outside Pick n Pay in Pepper Grove Mall. Sybill's Hairdressing Salon staff shaved the heads of brave people who wanted to make the symbolic gesture. The Early Act Club team sprayed the hair of numerous participants.
Grade 7 teacher and supervisor of the fundraising event, Anita Sonne says the Cansa Shavathon is an initiative the school holds annually, to reach the wider community.
“Everybody knows somebody who is a cancer survivor, or has passed away because of cancer”, she said.
Sonne says the Cansa Shavathon has been successful since the inaugural event which raised over R7 000. Last year’s event raised close to R9 000.
A Grade 7 pupil at Victoria Primary said: “We raise funds and money for it (Cansa) and we give it to the person in charge and we do this to help other people. We also do this because we know it’s fun to do it and everyone will want their hair to be coloured.
"So it’s a very good way to raise money and to make everyone smile.”
The funds raised go towards the Cansa fund.
Sonne said about half the money raised is from the school event, while the other half is from the event at Pepper Grove Mall.
“It’s about 50/50,” said Sonne.
Cancer is a terminal disease and the costs of treating it are steep.
Sonne adds: “It is something the school has been doing even before Early Act was introduced. It's part of the schoool's outreach work.
"The children have already been doing caring [work in]the community. I think they are excited because it’s a fun activity for them to do, to have their hair pink and come to school.”
Sonne says many of the pupils volunteer for the programme.
Cansa said Victoria Primary School, along with the Early Act Club, are the only consistent contributors in the Eastern Cape. Sonne challenged other schools in Grahamstown and their principals to participate in the worthy cause.
“One of the things we’ve heard from Cansa is that since we’ve started we’ve been that school in the Eastern Cape that has consistently raised the most,” said Sonne.
The fundraising initiative is close to her heart, as her father-in-law died from cancer. It is something she has always wanted to get involved in and she is grateful to the school for giving her the opportunity.
Cancer survivor, Anne Warren supported the Cansa Shavathon for various reasons.
She said the cancer organisation does good work including their research.
Warren was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in September 2012. It is a bone-marrow cancer.
She is currently in remission.
Warren has shaved her hair twice and today she decided to just spray it.
“I’m going to keep having colour in my hair to celebrate life. Some of the people who were diagnosed then with me have passed on,” she said.
Warren thinks the initiative is good for creating awareness, as the more people get involved, the more funds the cancer organisations will have for research.
Research shows that over 100 000 South Africans are diagnosed with cancer every year and one in four people is affected by cancer through the diagnosis family or a friend.
Cam du Plessis, who volunteered to shave her head on Saturday, says that shaving her hair “is radical” and people notice it.
“Most people that have cancer don’t feel well enough to walk around… but the fact is they do lose their hair.
"My mom died of cancer two years ago and my most beloved and dear friend has breast cancer. I believe that they are so brave.”
James Hoyle came to support the Cansa Shavathon in memory of his loved ones. He has also been diagnosed with cancer.
“My son has died of cancer, my mother has died of cancer, my father has died of cancer, my brother has died of cancer and I have got cancer”. Hoyle says people should support this initiative.
“We need to find the cure for cancer.”
Sonne and the Early Act Club members thanked members of the public who supported the Cansa Shavathon.
