Heritage

Pan Africa Life now joins the fight against cancer

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Nyanza's Noah Winja receives ticket to the Sanlam Cancer Challenge, 21-22 October 2013, Sun City Golf Resort during the Pan Africa Life Golf Series Grand Finale from Ezekiel Owuor, the National Sales Manager, Pan Africa Life last year. Photo/FILE

On many occasions I have used this column to applaud the spirit of golfers in various fundraising activities.

Throughout the world golfers have continued to play on a regular basis in charity competitions, raising funds and awareness for a myriad of causes.

This weekend, the second annual Pan Africa Life Golf Cancer Challenge tees off at the Mt Kenya Golf Club in Nyeri County.

First launched last year, the Cancer Challenge, a mirror image of the hugely successful Sanlam Cancer Challenge held in South Africa, gives golfers an opportunity to join the fight against cancer.

READ: Insurer in bid to fight cancer through golf

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Tom Gitogo, Pan Africa Life CEO, said the firm was committed to supporting the fight against cancer in Kenya in the long term.

“Our CSR policy revolves around education, environment and caring for the community and it is in the latter that the basis of this initiative is founded’’ Mr Gitogo said.

Over 20,000 Kenyans die of cancer every year due to lack of awareness and inability to access proper medical care.

‘‘The objective of this initiative is to come together with like minded organisations to increase awareness, promote early detection, cheaper treatment and increase survival chances,” he said.

“We wish to use this golf series to reach out to as many Kenyans from across the country as possible. We appreciate the gesture by the partners who have come on board to join us in this worthy course and look forward to more partnerships.”

This weekend, the Cancer Challenge tees off at the Mt Kenya Golf Club in Nyeri County; the golf event will be preceded by a cancer screening exercise at the Kamukunji Grounds in Nyeri Town Friday targeting over 3,000 residents and visitors to the county.

“Cancer management and treatment becomes much easier if the disease is detected early, and that is why this screening exercises are so important,” he added.

“We have decided to spread the screening net beyond the golfing fraternity to include the community around us in whichever areas we visit.

‘‘We are therefore urging all residents of Nyeri County and surrounding areas to turn up in big numbers and get free professional cervical, prostate and breast cancer consultation and screening services, it is the first step in getting treatment for the disease.”

Commitment

The Pan Africa Life Cancer Challenge Golf series will visit six counties across Kenya and the screening exercise for communities will be held on the Friday before the golf tournaments.

“This is our commitment to fighting cancer,” Gitogo added. “Our partners in this fight include the Africa Cancer Foundation, Philips Healthcare East Africa, AON Minet, MTN insurance agency, DotSavy, Chase Bank and others.”

From Nyeri, the Cancer Challenge will move to Nyanza, Nakuru, Mombasa, Eldoret and then Nairobi for the grand finale.

The overall winner of the Pan Africa Life Cancer Challenge will win an all expenses paid trip to participate in the 2014 Sanlam Cancer Challenge which will be held at Sun City Golf Resort from October 21 to 22.