WeeklySA_AdminCampaigns: The girls gone rx organisation is at the forefront of awareness campaigns in national fitness campaigns
By Thuli Zungu
The founder of Girls Gone Rx and CrossFit Durban West, Sarah Raatgever, envisions a world where physical strength nurtures bodies and ignites hope for cancer patients.
Raatgever says she got involved with Girls Gone Rx after her father was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. “The news had left the family reeling.” Soon thereafter she was contacted by the founder of the global Girls Gone Rx organisation and asked if she wanted to help launch the South African branch of the organization.
“I wanted to help not only my father, but anyone in a similar situation, but I did not know how or what to do. When Girls Gone Rx contacted me, I leaped at the chance.”
After her father recuperated from the disease, the experience ignited a fire in her to help others in the best possible way through her strength and help from the community. Raatgever says according to BioMed Central (BMC), a world-leading open-access publisher that produces over 250 scientific journals, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in South
Africa, accounting for 22.6% of all female cancers and 16% of cancer deaths amongst women. Millions of South Africans have been devastated by the effects of cancer and in a move that could help countless victims, Girls Gone Rx SA has been given a funding boost by Vuma, South Africa’s largest fibre network operator.Girls Gone Rx is a non-profit organisation that advocates for women’s strength, both physical and emotional, through competitive fitness events and community engagement.
“Proceeds from every event they host benefit breast cancer charities across the globe. So far, they have raised more than R17-million and still counting,” says Raatgever.
The South African chapter of Girls Gone Rx has been at the forefront of awareness and education campaigns in national fitness circles.
“We are thrilled that we have partnered with Vuma, an organisation with a track record for committing to causes like this and which has been able to step up and help us continue our fight against cancer. Their help and that of others goes a long way to showing cancer survivors and victims that they are not alone.”
As they continue to grow, Girls Gone Rx SA welcomes others who share their passion to visit www.girlsgonerxsouthafrica.com to get involved, participate or learn more about upcoming events, says Raatgever.
“With the unwavering support of a compassionate community, they aim to create a brighter future for women battling cancer and foster a sense of togetherness that reminds survivors and victims alike that they are never alone on their journey.”
According to Taylor Kwong, CSI and Marketing Manager at Vuma, partnering with Girls Gone Rx was a no-brainer for the organisation.
“Our continued collaboration with PinkDrive and other organisations that either uplift communities or assist them in combating cancer and other illnesses makes us an ideal fit for the task we are attempting to accomplish with Girls Gone Rx SA.
‘Because we can, we must,’ is our brand belief and everything we do is guided by these ethos. It is always rewarding to work with partners who share our beliefs.”
Kwong says with the recent support from Vuma, Girls Gone Rx SA is set to elevate their community-driven efforts to new heights.
The backing they received will enable the organisation to extend its reach, host more events and forge collaborations with additional charities, all focused on uplifting women across the country.
Health train services benefit more South Africans
Health: Core market is impoverished communities whose health services are a serious challenge to government alone to provide
By Robert Tlapu
About 420 000 South Africans can benefit from the medical services offered by the Phelophepa Health train, subsidized by Transnet Foundation. There are two trains, which covers the eight provinces, cater the poor communities of the country who do not have an access to good health services.
The Phelophepa Health train journey takes 38 weeks providing good health to South Africans which kicked off in KwaZulu Natal on 23 January and will end in the North West province on 20 October 2023.
Shamona Kandia, Head of Health Portfolio at Transnet Foundation said, “The core market is impoverished communities along the rail Corridor of South Africa where health services are a challenge for government alone to provide. We undertake a wider stakeholder consultation process to determine the areas targeted”.
She continued that the stakeholders include government, civil society and internal Transnet stakeholders. Kandia pointed out that each train has a total staff of 23 members, from both Health and Humanities professionals as well as support and logistics staff.
“However, wherever we go, we also supplement this with 70 local workers from communities where the train visits as well as an additional 37 final year students from training institutions across the country”, added Kandia.
Kandia pointed out that historically Gauteng province communities did not enjoy the health benefits offered by Phelophepa train due to rail logistics, but “we are introducing services pilot in Gauteng this October, if the pilot is effective, Phelophepa will expand to Gauteng from next year”, concluded Kandia who said some of the services are charged as low as less than R50 and some are free.
