Mandela Day – CANSA Provides Relief to Cancer Patients

Afrikaanse Media Vrystelling

29 June 2021 – CANSA in support of Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July) and in line with its theme ‘One Hand Can Feed Another’, aims to help assist cancer patients by providing basic needs through food and care packages.

#CANSACares #CANSACareAndSupport #MandelaDay

Gerda Strauss CANSA’s Head: Service elaborates, “CANSA has been offering support services to cancer patients from all walks of life over the past 90 years, across the country. Many of our cancer patients come from low-income households, and with the added financial burden of a cancer diagnosis, they struggle to make ends meet. COVID-19 has added to this financial burden. CANSA tries to alleviate the financial burden on patients who stay at our CANSA Care Homes or CANSA TLC Lodges, by providing basic food and care packages in addition to the services provided which include accommodation during treatment, meals and transport to treatment. This Nelson Mandela International Day we asking for all to contact their local CANSA Care Centre and to make donations towards these food and care packages, so that we can help more families affected by cancer.”

Donations of items can be dropped off at CANSA Care Centres and strict safety measures are in place to ensure sanitising of goods or packages, mask wearing and physical distancing. Donations can also be delivered or contact a CANSA Care Centre to arrange collection.

“As lockdown levels can limit movement and people may not be keen to drop off at a Centre, we welcome any financial gifts towards food and care packages. How about each person donating R90 commemorating CANSA’s 90th anniversary and encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to do the same?” urges Strauss.

Donations can be made online or visit https://cansa.org.za/personal-donation-options/ to find other ways of giving. Individual wish lists for Care Homes and TLC Lodges available here:  Care Homes | TLC Lodges.

Strauss concludes, “Mandela Day is an opportunity for South Africans to devote to helping others, and everyone has something to contribute. As CANSA, another way to get involved is to volunteer time and services and help make the world a better place for children, women and men affected by cancer.”

Anyone wanting to join CANSA as a volunteer, can sign up online or contact their local CANSA Care Centre.

CANSA’s service to cancer patients includes stoma clinics offering support regarding products, emotional support and advice and a free Tele Stoma support service; our free CANSA Tele Counselling service – cancer specific counselling offered in seven languages (English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, seSotho and Setswana); information and material for cancer patients and people living with underlying non-communicable diseases to protect themselves against COVID-19; and online support groups and resources for patients, caregivers and loved ones.

Note: The responsibility rests with patients to contact CANSA for assistance. Read more…

Published: 12 July 2021 | Last Updated: 2 August 2021
Categories: CANSA Eastern Cape, CANSA Free State, CANSA Gauteng, CANSA KwaZulu-Natal, CANSA Limpopo, CANSA Mpumalanga, CANSA North West, CANSA Northern Cape, CANSA Western Cape, Media Releases & News