Chairperson’s Report: Northern Business Unit Annual General Meeting

Introduction

Today is a historical day; it’s the very first AGM of the NBU. These new structures are very new so we are all learning as we progress so that we can ensure that CANSA delivers as effectively and efficiently as possible.

The Northern Business Unit serves the Greater Gauteng, Vaal Triangle area, North West Province, Waterberg area and Limpopo provinces.

Key highlights

Some key highlights for the last year are:

·         Ouma Yvonne Terblanche, a long time Volunteer in Polokwane, was rewarded with an outstanding award for exceptional service by the local Rotaries. We are proud of this hard-working, dedicated Volunteer who is a huge asset to CANSA.

·         Polokwane CANSA Care Centre, as well as our Stoma division in Pretoria, introduced new medical software programmes, enabling us to exercise better control delivers a more efficient service to patients.

·         In August 2011 the NBU launched six CANSA Care Clinics in Pretoria, Roodepoort, Houghton, Rustenburg Klerksdorp and Polokwane. All six Clinics are managed by Registered Nurses.

Our flagship is the newly launched Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) programme in Polokwane.  We were able to refurbish a wing of the Polokwane Hospital. The children now have lovely rooms, colourful tables and chairs, games to keep them busy and space where they can run around and play. This does wonders for their mental and emotional well-being while their little bodies are fighting the disease. Parents are able to stay in a CANSA Care Home close to the children, affording them the love and support they need during these times.

Prevention and Early Detection

Health Awareness programmes took on a new meaning with the introduction of the Sure Touch machine that enables us to screen for Breast cancer. Together with the FotoFinder machine doing screening for Skin cancer, we are able to expand this service to the community at large and reach many more people.

Inca Portfolio Managers put up a generous sponsorship by presenting a golf day, enabling us to upgrade our Mobile Health Unit.  We launched several programmes in rural areas with the new Mobile Unit. 

The Mobile Health Unit also served us well at the ‘Pink Cricket’ – a first in South Africa this year.  The event was first launched in Australia by the McGrath Foundation in memory of former fast bowler Glenn McGrath’s wife, Jane, who passed away in 2008 due to breast cancer. 

 The launch of ‘Pink Cricket’ in South Africa was at a cricket match between South Africa and Australia during the Aussies’ 2011 tour of South Africa. South African men turned out in their thousands wearing pink and sporting false beards to assist us in creating awareness of early detection. We utilised our Mobile Health Unit to do screenings and give out information to the cricket fans.

A couple of Regions dusted off their Toktokkies (Tap-Tap) and together with the Pulani show programme, we were able to reach our Youth through various education programmes.

Dr Annemarie Oberholzer who has had much success utilising animals to help the healing process in kids affected with cancer - has now introduced art programmes at primary schools to create awareness.  She also appointed ‘ambassadors’ in High Schools in order to create peer awareness, as well as to create a volunteer spirit amongst kids.

Rustenburg region reached more than 2 000 men with health talks at community centres, schools, church groups and at social institutions. 

Etana hosted the annual Daredevil Run to create cancer awareness amongst men. This event is in its fourth year and Durban and Cape Town have now joined in to make this a meaningful annual event.  In Gauteng more than 700 men which included me shared in the fun and raised the tidy sum of R60 000.

Advocacy

As far as advocacy work goes;

·         An informative and successful symposium on ‘Cancer in the Workplace’ was held in Potchefstroom.

·         In Pretoria guest speaker Dr Hans Jekel spoke at the symposium, addressing the topic ‘Healthy Balanced Lifestyle’.

·         Dr Carl Albrecht addressed guests at a symposium held in Vereeniging, speaking on the topic ‘Environmental Factors and cancer’.

Our staff attended 12 Symposiums held by outside parties and hosted 25 events (Corporate Wellness Days).

Fund Development

Relay For Life:                    R  4 511 032

Shavathon:                         R  2 848 966

Cuppa for CANSA :          R     345 983

SCC Golf:                             R     757 753

Special Events:                  R  2 175 100

Rooi Rose Tea:                  R     280 000

Teledonations:                  R  2 832 719

Our Relay for Life (RFL) events were a great success this year.  Rina Burke from Eastern Gauteng excelled in making the best ever income at a Relay in South Africa, whilst Central Gauteng Region added an innovative twist by hosting a very successful Ice Skating RFL Event at Northgate Mall.

Launch of CUPPA for CANSA was held on the 4^th June 2011 at the Grey Owl shopping centre in Pretoria.

Sanlam Golf Day is going from strength to strength, 186 golf clubs participated in this challenge.

As far as the Shavathon is concerned the NBU won Gold by raising the most money nationally with Shavathon: a staggering R2 848 966. Thanks to all the 124 malls, numerous schools, corporates and the public that took part in our Shavathon.

Provincial and Regional Events

Our Regional Council Committee in Mafikeng hosted a ‘Bollywood Extravaganza’.   The event was well attended by more than 500 people from all communities and R180 000 was raised.

Polokwane region held a well-sponsored and well-supported bazaar.  The generous people of Polokwane donated so much fresh food that we were able to channel some of it into poorer communities making this a double benefit from the occasion.  This bazaar is held annually to raise funds on behalf of people who cannot afford to stay at our CANSA Care Homes.  We have also, with the aid of our generous sponsors, been able to increase the number of beds in the CANSA Hospitium in Polokwane to meet the growing demand for accommodation from patients.

Copperstone Promotions and Silverstar Casino, in aid of CANSA, raised a handsome sum of R117 000 with their annual Bachelor and Bachelorette Event, whilst the Rooi Rose Tea raised R280 000. This annual prestige event is done in partnership with Spar and Rooi Rose magazine.

Chellaine Gieske and Theresa Wilson run the Comrades marathon annually to raise funds for CANSA West Rand. They collected R150 000 during the year adding great value and awareness for the West Rand Region.

Partners and Sponsors

The Phakamisa Project in partnership with the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) and Astra Zeneca we trained 128 volunteers on Breast Cancer in Pretoria, Vereeniging, Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp Polokwane, Soweto, Waterberg, Rustenburg, Brits and Roodepoort. These volunteers render support to women diagnosed with breast cancer at the clinics and do awareness talks in their communities.

A special thanks to our volunteers

We express our thanks and appreciation to all our volunteers, donors and supporters for their kindness, commitment and continued support to us and for the cause of Cancer control in South Africa. You have worked side by side with us and your support has inspired us when it mattered most. The success of this organisation is your success.

To all our staff and families, thank you for your commitment, hard work, time and sacrifices for the greater cause of fighting Cancer and providing support to all those affected by Cancer. We Salute you and thank you.

Allow me to congratulate in advance all those who will be receiving awards.

I thank you.

Manny de Freitas

Chairperson: Northern Business Unit

CANSA