News

Shaving it off for cancer

Netcare N1 City Hospital staff show solidarity with, and help raise funds for, cancer sufferers

Wednesday, April 29 2015

Seven female staff members at Netcare N1 City Hospital in Goodwood, Cape Town recently surrendered their locks during a CANSA Shavathon at the hospital to raise money for patients who are fighting cancer. “It is often said that a woman’s hair is her crowning glory. Losing their hair as a result of cancer treatment is devastating to some patients, and by shaving our hair we wanted to send a message of solidarity to them and other patients who are fighting cancer,” notes Hilda Ryan, registered nurse at Netcare N1 City Hospital.

Hilda Ryan, Carol van Zillah, Adelne Jacobs, Natalie Robertson, Louise Witten, Lavea Klue and Charlene Bullock not only shaved their heads as a tribute to patients who are fighting cancer, but, together with colleagues, doctors, visitors and other hospital patients, raised R13 000 for CANSA over the past few weeks through participation and passion.

Seven employees from Netcare N1 City Hospital — Hilda Ryan, Carol van Zillah , Adelne Jacobs, Natalie Robertson, Louise Witten,  Lavea Klue and Charlene Bullock, pictured here from left to right – shaved their heads as a tribute to patients who are fighting cancer. Here the seven women hand over a cheque for R13,000  to CANSA’s Angela Rodi, Community Mobiliser - Fund Development from the CANSA Science and Resource Centre in Mowbray, Cape Town.

“Netcare N1 City Hospital has a well-established, state-of-the-art oncology unit and is one of the few facilities in South Africa that offers cutting-edge stereotactic radiosurgery to treat brain and other tumours,” says the hospital general manager, Dr Anton van Wyk. “Our staff members are involved daily with patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. We witness not only the despair that often comes with such a diagnosis, but also our patients’ courage in dealing with the disease and the triumph when the battle against cancer is won.”

“Having an experienced, multi-disciplinary team using the latest appropriate technology to treat cancer is crucial, but equally important is that patients feel supported by those caring for them. Organisations such as CANSA also go out of their way to ensure that cancer sufferers do not feel alone in their battle against this illness, and we are privileged to support them,” concludes Dr Van Wyk.

Ends
Issued by: Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of Netcare N1 City Hospital
Contact : Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Sarah Wilson or Meggan Saville
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or
[email protected]