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Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
ZIMPAPERS in association with Island Hospice and Health Care will today bring down the curtain on the breast cancer awareness month in style by hosting the seventh Annual Cancer Power Walk.

This year’s edition which is being held in Bulawayo, Harare, Gweru, Mutare, Masvingo and Kariba, is expected to be bigger and better, as the walk is returning following the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The walk begins at 5:30am and participants are required to pay US$10 or $6 500 for registration and each person will get a branded T-shirt.

So much has been happening behind the scenes to ensure that the day is a success and the response from stakeholders has been encouraging.

It is high time corporates started leading the cancer fight and it is an opportune time that in all efforts, the cancer fight moves a gear up, from awareness to action.

Zimpapers is one of the corporates in the country which have taken it upon themselves to ensure that there is action in the cancer fight and that it is never just about the talk.

It is one thing to write moving stories about survivors, to detail statistics and to write about researchers breaking new ground.

It is another to actually stand up to do something. Such events as the cancer walk, other than just awareness and a public display, actually prompt people to ponder anew on their status, to get screened and to contribute to charities set up to help cancer patients.

It is true that while we may all be well meaning and wish those fighting cancer and undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments successful recoveries, our material support is also needed and sparing a few dollars a month could really go a long way if all of us are to make a habit of it.

In Bulawayo, the walk will start at Chronicle House at 6am.

There will be a marked route from Chronicle House into 9th Avenue from which participants will turn left into Samuel Parirenyatwa Street and right into Leopold Takawira Avenue.

They will turn right into Ascot Road and left into 12th Avenue up to George Silundika Street and back to Chronicle House.

OK Mart

In Gweru, the walk starts at OK Mart with participants taking a right turn into Mvuma Road before turning into Josiah Chinamano.
Participants will then turn left into Bradley Road straight into Health Row before turning left into Acacia Road.

They will take another left turn into Windsor Road to the first roundabout up to the C.P.H roundabout.

In Harare, the event is taking place at Old Hararians Sports Club, while in Mutare it is being held at the Manicaland Motoring Club. In Kariba the event is taking place at Nyamhunga Primary School.

Interested participants will also undergo health checks which will include HIV tests, breast cancer examinations and blood pressure and diabetes checks from service providers on site. In 2015, Zimpapers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Island Hospice which saw the group providing space across its platforms; radio and newspapers to cancer and other health issues.

Cancer cells

While traditionally Zimbabweans are familiar with cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and leukaemia, people are succumbing to pancreatic cancer, cancer of the colon, rectal cancer and many others.

Most people throughout October demonstrated their awareness of the breast cancer month by dressing up or accessorising with pink coloured items.

The pink ribbon campaign is probably one of the most prominent and popular awareness campaigns in the world.

To most people, that’s certainly a good thing, but, if you want to truly support the fight to cure breast cancer, I don’t believe that buying pink and wearing pink is enough.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

To really stand up along survivors and all the other women and men who have been affected by this disease, action is just as important.

Zimbabwe has maintained the tradition and has for many years now commemorated cancer month but beyond October, the hive of activity seems to slow down as the promises to help in the fight against cancer are forgotten and the cancer patients continue the fight for survival alone. Cancer awareness and support for programmes should go all year round.

The #PinkOctober hashtag should not just be about solidarity speeches, it should be backed by action.
Corporates such as Zimpapers are doing right to ensure that cancer awareness is more than just talk, but action too.

The more awareness there is about a disease or ailment, the more empowered people are and the more they are able to handle the disease.

No one is immune to cancer.

breast-cancer

While special diets, exercise and general healthy habits can help reduce chances of developing cancerous tumours by up to 40 percent, it is important for everyone to get screened once in a while.

There is a lot that businesses can do in the health sector.

There is always something to be done and other companies should emulate what Zimpapers and other companies are doing to not just raise awareness but also mobilising resources to assist cancer patients.

Let’s all join in the fight because we are stronger together.