Beulah Jankelowitz of Reach for Recovery receiving a donation of R256 000 from Kathleen Bailie, SPAR inland advertising manager. 
 

The worldwide cancer burden is expected to reach 21 million new diagnoses and 13 million deaths by 2030 if no action is taken. This money will be utilised to assist many indigent women who have had the frightening diagnosis of breast cancer.

SPAR recently donated R256 000 to the Reach for Recovery programme. The programme provides emotional care and practical support to breast cancer patients and their families. Various women’s charities across the country benefitted from the national SPAR Women’s Day Initiative that raised more than R1 million.

Kathleen Bailie, SPAR inland advertising manager, handed over a cheque for R256 000 to the Reach for Recovery programme on January 19, 2022. Bailie said recovering from breast cancer requires a lot of emotional support.

“Many women feel uncomfortable about their appearance after surgery. The money will be used to provide subsidised silicon breast prosthesis and loving support to breast cancer patients in state hospitals across the country,” said Bailie.

During August 2021, the SPAR group embarked on a nation campaign to donate more than R1 million to various women’s charities across the country. The aim of the campaign was to reinforce SPAR’s “End GBV” drive and honour women. At the same time giving SPAR customers the opportunity to contribute to something bigger by simply shopping at their favourite SPAR store. Loyal shoppers were rewarded with a trendy photo frame fridge magnet when spending R200 or more.

“We are very proud of our retailers and the community who came together to raise this money during Women’s Month. Reach for Recovery is a deserving beneficiary whom have done amazing work by supporting women suffering from breast cancer,” said Bailie.

The Reach for Recovery programme is an autonomous non-profit organization that has been operational since the late 1960s. The breast cancer support organisation is run by a group of passionate and dedicated volunteers that provides support service on a national basis.

Beulah Jankelowitz of Reach for Recovery in Johannesburg said it was amazing to get a phone call naming them as a beneficiary of the campaign.

“To have been given R256 000 surpassed our wildest dreams. This money will certainly be utilised to assist many indigent women who have had the frightening diagnosis of breast cancer. Thank you is certainly not adequate enough and there are many other adjectives which come to mind…amazing, extraordinary, generous and awesome to name a few,” said Jankelowitz.

Jankelowitz concluded by saying: “Here’s hoping we will live in a better world soon.”

According to the South African Cancer Alliance, the worldwide cancer burden is expected to reach 21 million new diagnoses and 13 million deaths by 2030 if no action is taken.