Riding for a good cause

By Mishkah Anthony
18 October 2008

Twelve women, all breast cancer survivors, will arrive in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront this afternoon after a two-thousand-kilometre journey through South Africa from Johannesburg.

Executive Deputy Mayor Grant Haskin will receive the 12 women forming the core group of the Temptations Journey of Hope, Breast Cancer Ride 2008, when they arrive at around 14:00.

The group tackled the Temptations Journey of Hope, Breast Cancer Ride 2008, in four-by-four vehicles and on Harley Davidson motorbikes to raise awareness of the illness. They also want to assure woman and men diagnosed with breast cancer that if the condition is detected and treated early, the survival rate is 95-percent.

At the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month Haskin said, “due to ignorance, lack of information and awareness, many women die of breast cancer in South Africa.

With information and education the picture could look much different. One in 27 women are diagnosed with breast cancer of which 24,4% are Asian, 18,2% Coloured , 17.9% are white and 13,3% are African women.”

Meanwhile a UK study has shown that there is even an increase in males developing breast cancer. Still, breast cancer is no death sentence, and if detected and treated early, the survival rate is 95%.

The initiator of the ride, Diane Parker says the Temptations Journey of Hope Breast Cancer Ride has a powerful message of hope and encouragement in an upbeat, positive and unique manner, in both urban and rural communities across South Africa.