22 Aug 2019

Forty-days cycling around Botswana is expected to raise awareness on prostate cancer.

The campaign, organised by a non-governmental organisation; Together We Care Learning Club (TWC), would try to close the gap between the Ministry of Health and Wellness and general public in spreading information on prostate cancer.

In an interview, TWC spokesperson, Mr Temo Jautse, said the 2 431km cycling campaign event was was a first for the NGO.

The cycling team began the race on July 21 in Gaborone and cycled through Kanye, Jwaneng, Ghanzi, Maun, Rakops, Letlhakane and Francistown.

He added that annually the NGO hosted events aimed at addressing different issues.

“Those who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer need to take treatment and better their lives,” he said.

When the team cycled around the country, they also offered door to door prostate cancer education as a way of taking information to the people.

Mr Jautse said prostate cancer was real and lives had been lost, hence starting such a project to save lives.

Together We Care chairperson, Mr Charles Mogwichini, said he considered the idea to start the NGO about five-years ago after losing friends and relatives to cancer, adding that as a son of a breast cancer survivor, he found it fit to be help his mother spread cancer awareness message.

“I was there each step of my mother’s fight against cancer and I am certain that if those that have been diagnosed take their medications well and abide by the doctors’ instructions, they can survive the ailment,” he said.

He appealed to the nation to once in a while go for health screenings, adding that such will get them treated at an early stage if diagnosed with any the disease before it weakened their bodies.

Choosing to combat the disease though cycling campaign, Mr Mogwichini said cycling was always a hobby to him from a tender age, adding that the sport was also part of exercising the body.

He, therefore, appealed to the public to join in the fight against cancer and other communicable diseases in the country.

He said TWC was open to working with companies and individuals alike to fight the disease.

The public and those with passion in cycling were welcome to be part of TWC to help bring change for all.

The NGO will now take the campaign to Selebi Phikwe, Palapye, Mahalapye, Mochudi and Gaborone.

.ENDS