One of the speakers: Lilian Dube |
JOHANNESBURG – While studying for her grade 11 exams, schoolgirl
Jenna Skews absent-mindedly played with a necklace she was wearing. This is
when she first felt a worrying lump in her breast.
A swift diagnosis revealed she had breast cancer – and a
life-saving mastectomy followed.
“Cancer changed the way I see the world, the way I look at myself,
who I am,” Jenna admits today. “The disease doesn’t discriminate. It can come
out of nowhere – for anyone. But there is hope..”
On the face of it, Jenna’s story is one of triumph. But there is a
deeper message: Young girls should routinely check for breast cancer.
One in 28 women in South Africa will be affected by breast cancer
in their lives, but according to the Breast Cancer Health Foundation there is a
90% survival rate if it is detected early and the correct treatment is
followed.
It’s vital that women of all ages – especially young women, who
might not consider themselves at risk – know about early detection and the
importance of breast self-examination.
To spread this life-saving message of awareness, ER24 Air Angels has
branded all its helicopters bright pink. These emergency helicopters will visit
schools across Gauteng during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The
campaign kicks off with a fundraiser luncheon at Casalinga in Muldersdrift on 5
October. The luncheon will include guest speakers such as Professor Carol Ann
Ben, South Africa’s leading breast surgeon and Lillian Dube, cancer survivor
and actress.
This novel initiative is a collaboration between ER24, Air Angels
Air Ambulance Services (the CSI division of Flightshare – ER24’s aeronautical
partner), the Breast Health Foundation, Novartis and Oneplan Health Insurance.
(Jenna after signing her name onto the Air Angels Helicopter)
At each activation, anyone whose life has been touched by cancer
are invited to sign their name or the name of their loved one on the pink helicopters,
signifying their support of this important message of early detection.
“ER24 has a visible presence throughout South Africa, specifically
in Gauteng where this campaign is taking place, and leveraging that visibility
with pink – a colour that is now synonymous with breast cancer awareness – is
the least we can do to spread the message. We are proud to partner with Air
Angels on this campaign to raise as much awareness as possible,” says ER24’s
communications manager, Werner Vermaak.
“Early intervention saves lives,” says Flightshare co-founder & Director Anton van den
Heever. “We’re proud to bring this message to young women at schools throughout
Gauteng – and to anybody who looks up and sees a pink helicopter in the month
of October.”
For more information go to: www.facebook.com/ER24Ambulance
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