Telecel fun run promotes awareness of cancer

Telecel Zimbabwe has organised a fun run on Saturday 26 October in support of the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe. Its purpose is to increase public awareness of cancer and raise funds for the Cancer Association and members of staff.

Although dubbed the Telecel Fun Run, participants can choose whether to run or walk the five kilometre route, which begins and ends at Sunrise Sports Club in Ridgeview.

Anyone can enter the Fun Run. They just have to turn up at Sunrise Sports Club to register at 7am on Saturday.

There will be a jumping castle and other forms of entertainment to keep the children happy, while their parents run or walk the five kilometre route. When they have completed the route, the adults can join their children and enjoy the entertainment as well. There will be music, lots of food and various forms of entertainment.

The cancer awareness Fun Run comes towards the end of October, which is marked in Zimbabwe and many other countries around the world as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

During the month of October many people wear a pink ribbon as a reminder of breast cancer and the need to be aware of it so that it can be detected and dealt with early and as an act of solidarity with those who are suffering or have suffered from breast cancer.

The ribbons are also worn to honour survivors of breast cancer, remember those lost to the disease and support efforts to defeat it.

Funds are also raised during this month for research into the causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of the disease.

Telecel staff members have been wearing pink ribbons since the beginning of the month. Representatives of the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe have visited Telecel offices to talk to staff about cancer and give them tips on how to detect and manage the condition.

Cancer is a disease caused by an uncontrolled division of cells in a part of the body.  Cells normally reproduce themselves by dividing in a regular fashion so that growth and repair of the body tissues can take place. If the normal function is disrupted, there may be an uncontrolled growth of cells causing a swelling or tumour. Tumours may be benign or malignant (cancerous).

There are different types of cancer. Each type is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.

Medical advances have made it possible for some types of cancer, when detected early enough, to be treated successfully. However, for many people cancer is fatal. There are still some cancers that are not amenable to successful treatment.

Cancer remains a serious condition and often causes a great deal of physical pain. It is widespread in many countries, including Zimbabwe.

Telecel public relations and corporate social responsibility manager Francis Chimanda said Telecel had lost a number of staff members to cancer.

 "We have lost colleagues to this disease, which has helped make us aware of how serious cancer can be and how important it is to support those who are suffering from it and those who, through their research, are trying to help combat it.

"The Cancer Association does a great deal to promote awareness of the warning signs of cancer and to support those suffering from various forms of cancer.

"We felt we would like to support it in the important work it does and in its efforts to improve awareness of cancer, which is why we decided to hold this five kilometre fun run or fun walk, depending on whether one is a runner or a walker," he said.

"We hope as many people as possible will participate in this event in solidarity with those who are battling with cancer and those who have battled with it, whether successfully or not.

"The food and entertainment should make it a fun time for everyone, the runners, the walkers and those who just want to enjoy the food and entertainment."

Registration is three dollars for adults and one dollar for children. The money raised from registration goes to the Cancer Association and Telecel staff suffering from the condition.