It is January 2017. Swim training started last week and we are receiving our first swim meet entries for January. It is time for me to note our contribution to Childhood cancer in 2016 before we start the remaining 3 months of the 2016-2017 season. We hope you find this post inspiring and join the cancer awareness campaigns to increase awareness.
September is not just the month when we celebrate spring. It is also the month when the swimming season officially starts with the biggest Junior swimming event in our province: KZN Junior champs.
In 2015 Monica pledged all her races to the Go Gold September childhood cancer awareness project, and we made the same commitment and pledge in 2016. This time around we decided to do more than just swim for cancer, we also decided to make 100 Gold ribbons and hand them out at the Junior champs.
Why do we support childhood cancer?
As a mom, I firmly believe that every child should learn how to support a worthy cause. In our case, we choose childhood cancer due to Monica’s early childhood (birth to age 6) health battles.
For our first-time readers, Monica suffers from respiratory problems. In the early days, it manifested as chronic pneumonia. At age 2 her tests included full blood work checking for any signs of cancer. We are forever grateful for the negative results but will never forget the stressful time.
Today Monica is healthy even though she is using preventative medication for asthma (diagnosed at age 6) with no signs of pneumonia.
Besides our own challenges, we do identify with the difficulty families face dealing with sick children, not just children suffering from childhood cancer.
Making 100 Gold ribbons:
We, therefore, decided that we want to support this cause in the best possible way we can. Supporting a cause is not always about money or raising funds.
Setting an example, making ribbons, telling people around us about childhood cancer is also a way to contribute – sometimes creating awareness achieve more than the penny dropped into the tin.
Making the ribbons is such a fun activity! We made a template and Monica cuts the ribbons. Mom sews the beads and the pins onto the ribbons. A true team effort.
It took a bit of time but by KZN Junior champs, we had 100 ribbons ready for distribution.
KZN Junior champs 2016:
The day arrives and we hand out our ribbons to friends, coaches and parents around the pool. It is very well received and at one stage we think we are going to run out of ribbons, but thankfully there were enough.
Monica enhances her effort by swimming in a gold and black swim-suit, cleaning out the medal table, winning the top 9-year-old female trophy. Setting an example in every possible way.
One thing that struck me was the number of people that said they knew of someone suffering from cancer. Some sad stories were shared but most of all we think we achieved our goal which is to create awareness, spread love and support for those that are fighting their battles.
Many thanks to all the clubs, parents, and coaches supporting our effort!
Cancer – the good news in 2017:
The American Cancer Society released a report in January stating that the death rate is down 25% since 1991. One wonders what the statistics show in South Africa and the rest of the world?
Nothing like a bit of good news and a great way to start 2017. Let’s keep up our effort and spread the word!
