After losing many loved ones to cancer, Tshepang Lutshaba started an organisation called South Africa United Against Cancer which aims at educating people about cancer. By Fundiswa Nkwanyana
When I was 16 years old my grandmother died from cancer. I loved her very much and seeing her suffering from cancer made me very sad. A couple of years later, my sister died from cancer and my aunt also died from cancer. I felt helpless as I witnessed the pain that they were going through and I knew that I had to do something to help others.
At SAUAC we educate people about cancer. When my grandmother was sick and dying from cancer, many people thought that she was sick because of witchcraft and this led to a delay in getting treatment. Many people also thought that only white people suffered from cancer. Because of this, I now educate people about cancer so that they are informed and know where to get tested and what treatment options are available to them.
Creating awareness about cancer is very close to my heart. My organisation runs educational awareness campaigns and through fund raising initiatives we raise money to go into communities and educate them about cancer. We also host a special day to remember people that have died from cancer and to celebrate cancer survivors.
Being fearless helps me overcome the challenges of running this organisation. Running a non-profit organisation is not easy as we constantly have to raise funds to host events and educational campaigns, however, knowing that I’m making a positive difference in people’s lives helps me to overcome this challenge. I hope that the business sector and corporate social investment officials will help us continue to bring a positive change to people’s lives.
