GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - On Tuesday 24 October, the Wilderness section of Garden Route National Park, supported by SANParks, hosted a Cancer Awareness Walk.
The event took place in the Wilderness section and aimed to raise awareness about cancer, honour survivors and provide support to those impacted by the disease.
This initiative coincided with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, emphasising the importance of healthy lifestyle choices, early detection, and improved survival rates through screening and diagnosis.
More than 200 participants, including employees from the Wilderness section of Garden Route National Park and members of the community, joined forces for the walk.
The route began at the park's northern gate, following the historic Seven Passes Road to Wilderness, looping through the village of the Wilderness business centre and ended at the Rest Camp via Waterside Road.
The Garden Route National Parks staff all came together in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.
The event programme featured informative presentations by esteemed individuals actively involved in the fight against cancer. Sharon Venter, a representative of the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa), shared valuable insights into the disease.
Additionally, Lynne McEwan, a cancer survivor and member of SANParks Honorary Rangers, shared her personal testimony of recovery, offering encouragement and inspiration. To further aid in cancer prevention and detection, on-site cancer-related tests and screenings were conducted by a clinic.
"Cancer continues to affect our employees and their families," said Dr Sandra Taljaard, park manager at the Wilderness Section of Garden Route National Park.
"This walk is a testament to our commitment to the health and well-being of our staff, visitors and the broader community. Through events like the Cancer Awareness Walk, we can come together as a community to raise awareness, support those affected and ultimately make a difference in the fight against this disease.
"We extend our gratitude to everyone who participated and made this event a success."
GRNP staff donned pink and white for the walk.
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