Another year has gone by, and the time for the 2025 Flagship ride has rolled in. This year, we would finally be making our way to the hot and sunny province of KZN; it’s been in the pipeline for a while, and it would now be official.
As with every year, there is a theme for each ride, and this year, in true Zulu spirit, the theme was Sawubona, which means “I see you”. This is a reflection of the heart and soul of Cancervive as a whole. They strive to show individuals that they are not alone; their courage, strength and resilience are seen and acknowledged.
We started the 8-day journey at the exquisite Tafin Royal Hotel in Centurion, Pretoria. Warm embraces were shared with friends who could be considered family, and excitement brewed for the journey ahead. After our briefing and prepping of riding gear, we attended an educational session led by CHOC – Childhood Cancer Foundation. We were introduced to what childhood cancer is, how early warning signs present themselves differently from those in adults and the importance of awareness regarding childhood cancer since only half of children with cancer are diagnosed. This information was vital for the individuals of Cancervive, not only because it increased their own knowledge regarding the topic, but also because they could now use it to educate the communities they visit in the future.
The next day would be the official send-off as we hit the road towards our first stop, which was the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Diepkloof, Johannesburg. We visited the Children’s Oncology department, where we saw 147 patients, including infants. With the sponsorship from Astral Cares and Goldi Chicken, we were able to give each patient a care package, which was received with great appreciation. The Cancervivers spent some time with the mothers and children, providing them with a space to confide and connect with people who have a similar understanding of how this disease impacts a person. Based on the theme of this year, it was evident that people need to know that they are seen in their struggles and that there are people who are there for them through it.
After a 385km ride to our accommodation, we arrived at the breathtaking Grey Goose Game Lodge in Newcastle, where we would spend the next three nights. We enjoyed a relaxed evening before turning in for the night, as we had an early morning ahead of us.
It was a rise and shine kind of day as we woke up early, enjoyed a cup of coffee and a rusk before setting out on a morning walk in honour of loved ones lost to cancer and people who are still fighting. The trail led to a beautiful cave down by the river called the Mosgat. It was a mixture of grassy fields and a small rocky descent to a path that continued to wind through a forest area before it opened up to the most amazing view of the moss and fern-covered cave. Reflecting on the walk, I found a strong similarity to life in general. I realised that most people have a beautiful, easy life, much like the grassy fields, but sometimes they encounter hardships and life takes a decline, similar to the rocky descent. We then find ourselves winding through the dark unknown, but somewhere down the line, we will reach the break in the overhanging canopy and experience the beauty of pushing through and winning the fight. With the right mindset and support, we can get through the tough times that arise, and we can look back knowing that we made it.
While we took a break with the entertainment team taking advantage of the acoustics in the cave, we were allowed to write down the names of loved ones who have been lost to cancer, which we then pinned to a string in remembrance with the rhythmic music echoing in the background. The atmosphere was very emotional, yet there was a sense of release as everyone spent some time in silence before heading back to the lodge for a well-deserved breakfast, as well as our first educational show.
The Cancervivers entertained and educated the guests who joined us on the walk. We also had the opportunity to introduce the new mascot, “Thuto”, which is Cancervive’s educational ChatBot; he is literally a digital character brought to life, ready to entice people to interact with the information available. With an insightful morning behind us, it was our turn to be educated, this time by Grey Goose Game Lodge itself, on their fully organic ecosystem, and they invited us to participate in planting Cancer Bush seeds—a medicinal plant with endless health benefits. It was such an inspiring experience, and it made one realise the importance of knowing what goes into the food we consume.
This year would be Suzuki Auto & Motorcycle South Africa’s 3rd year of being the vehicle and motorcycle sponsorship for the annual Flagship ride, 3 years of making it possible for Cancervive to travel to various locations across South Africa to spread awareness. As with the past few years, the team from Suzuki are a constant support throughout the ride, available to assist whenever and wherever needed. Their partnership is without a doubt irreplaceable.
We made a stop at the Suzuki dealership in Newcastle to show them support and to spend some time chatting with staff members before heading to the Ziphakamiseni Secondary School to educate the learners of the community about the importance of early detection and how it can save lives. We learnt that one of the staff members is a survivor of a childhood cancer and is now in his 40s. What a special moment it was to connect with another person who has endured and conquered the battle.
Our new Thuto mascot created an amazing atmosphere amongst the learners at the school, and it opened up a new opportunity to encourage them to use the information that is available to spread awareness amongst their communities. The stigmas and myths around cancer are unfortunately still very real in many communities, and it’s one of the main causes of people going undiagnosed, along with the lack of knowledge regarding the disease. We would visit a few schools along the ride, and in my opinion, it’s important to understand and acknowledge that it is the youth who will make the difference we want to see. By educating them, we are setting up a generation that is aware of the disease, and they will be the ones saving lives by talking openly about early detection and its importance.
Connecting with underprivileged communities is a big part of what Cancervive stands for, and the community of Thembelihle was one of the communities that we visited. This small community is filled with vulnerable women and children who are supported by two people who are passionate about helping their people. Sifiso and Ruth started a small centre where they feed and care for the people from the area. They dedicate their time and effort to these individuals to the best of their ability. We had the opportunity to prepare a meal for them, and thanks to Goldi Chicken, we were about to feed over 50 children and their families. BIC also sponsored school supplies to the children, as well as the community’s school, to ensure that the learners had the supplies needed to further their education. There is something special about serving people in need, and throughout the ride, that was the one aspect that stuck with me. Seeing the gratefulness on the faces of the children, especially, is something you’ll only understand if you’ve experienced it yourself.
After spending three days travelling to the different communities throughout Newcastle, it was time to move on to our next location—the small town of Wakkerstroom and its surroundings. With 237km ahead of us, we hit the road in order to make it to the Wakkerstroom Hotel for lunch and refreshments. If you have never visited this quaint town, I highly suggest you add it to your travel list as it is one of my favourite places along our +-1300km round trip. Filled with history and kind folk, you’ll understand why every person who passes through always returns. We spent the next few nights at Wetlands Game Lodge, hidden away in the tranquil mountains just outside of town.
One community visit that stood out to me was our visit to the BPG Langfontein Farm. With our setup done in one of the farm’s warehouses, the setting was amazing with the sun beaming through the skylights, hitting the dust that was being blown up by the wind. Mr BP Greyling opened up his farm to the people from the surrounding areas to join us, and the queues of people were a sight to behold. We spent the afternoon speaking to people from all walks of life, educating them about what cancer is, and also encouraging them not to remain silent in their suffering. Most people from similar communities believe that they have been cursed or did something wrong, and it’s Cancervive’s mission to remind them that it’s not their fault. Unfortunately, everyone has been touched by cancer in some way or another, but even though it is frightening, with early diagnoses and treatment, it’s not a death sentence.
The ride was drawing to a close, and looking back and reflecting on the past 8 days, you realise how there are people who are truly struggling; be it a diagnosis of cancer or poverty, each person is fighting their own battle. One thing that is incredibly important in every person’s life is self-care. We remain strong for the people we meet throughout the ride and general life, but it’s important to reflect on our own experiences as well. Looking back at my own life, the past few months, this year’s ride had its own personal challenges. During the ceremony, where we had time to release and reflect on the journey, I had the opportunity to truly accept the weight of my reality at the time and allow myself a moment to connect with my emotions. We sometimes choose to shove things down and ignore how we feel because it seems easier than making time to deal with it, and this is true in many aspects of life. We forget that by ignoring our situations, we are weighing ourselves down and preventing ourselves from moving forward. So I would like to remind you that whatever you are going through, allow yourself to feel it.
The ride was slowly reaching the finish line, but we had one final stop at the Goldi Chicken processing plant before heading back to Pretoria. The Cancervivers performed their last educational shows to two sets of groups consisting of Goldi Chicken employees. The edu-shows involve both cancer education as well as empowering entertainment, and the groups responded with great interest and enthusiasm. It was the perfect ending to a successful journey of creating awareness, providing hope and changing lives.
Each year is special in its own way, and this year was no different. Once again, Cancervive has educated people in areas where cancer awareness is scarce and hopefully, in the coming years, they will continue on their path of spreading the message of hope throughout South Africa.
For more information, visit Cancervive. To access Thuto, save this number: 010 442 5324 and WhatsApp “Hi.”
