In October 2025, the moment we had eagerly anticipated arrived: the Cancervive Flagship Ride finally rolled into the hot and sunny province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). This 8-day, approximately 1300km round trip was deeply rooted in the theme of “Sawubona,” a Zulu word meaning “I see you.” This powerful theme drove us every kilometer, affirming our commitment to ensure that every person—whether facing cancer or battling hardship—knew their courage, strength, and resilience were seen and acknowledged by us.
Our journey began in Centurion, Pretoria, at the exquisite Tafin Royal Hotel, where the warm embraces of friends and family set the stage for the week ahead. After our briefing, we received vital education from the CHOC – Childhood Cancer Foundation. We learned how childhood cancer warning signs differ from those in adults, and absorbed the crucial information that only half of affected children are currently diagnosed, strengthening our knowledge base for the communities we planned to visit.
The next day marked our official send-off, leading us to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. Our visit to the Children’s Oncology department allowed us to see 147 patients, including infants, and thanks to the incredible support from Astral Cares and Goldi Chicken, we were able to distribute care packages. Spending time with the mothers and children, listening and connecting, was a pure embodiment of our “Sawubona” theme—showing them they are not alone.
After a 385km ride, we arrived at the breathtaking Grey Goose Game Lodge in Newcastle, our home for the next three nights. Our time here included a deeply moving morning walk to the Mosgat cave by the river. The trail, a mix of grassy fields, rocky descents, and winding paths, served as a powerful metaphor for life’s challenges. In the cave, we found a moment of quiet release, pinning the names of loved ones lost and those still fighting. Later, we performed our first educational show for lodge guests and proudly introduced Thuto, our new educational ChatBot mascot, who is already proving to be a fantastic tool for encouraging interaction with vital health information. We also had the inspiring opportunity to be educated by the lodge staff on their organic ecosystem and even participated in planting Cancer Bush seeds.
Our mission continued with vital community outreach. We celebrated Suzuki Auto & Motorcycle South Africa’s third year as our vehicle and motorcycle sponsor—a partnership we simply cannot do without—before heading to the Ziphakamiseni Secondary School. Here, we educated the learners on the life-saving importance of early detection, finding a special connection with a staff member who was a childhood cancer survivor. The energy and openness of the students, especially with our Thuto mascot, reaffirmed our belief that educating the youth is the most important step we can take to break down stigmas. A huge part of our heart belongs to connecting with underprivileged communities, and we were honored to visit Thembelihle. Thanks to Goldi Chicken, we prepared a meal for over 50 children and their families, and with the sponsorship from BIC, we supplied them and their local school with necessary stationery. Serving this community and seeing their gratitude was a highlight we will always cherish.
Leaving Newcastle, we rode 237km toward Wakkerstroom, arriving at the delightful Wakkerstroom Hotel for lunch before settling into the tranquil Wetlands Game Lodge. A standout visit in this area was to the BPG Langfontein Farm, where Mr. BP Greyling opened his property to a large gathering from surrounding areas. Standing in the warehouse, with the sun streaming through the skylights, we spoke to people from all walks of life, passionately encouraging them not to remain silent in their suffering. Our message was resolute: cancer is not a curse, and with early diagnosis, there is always hope.
As the ride drew to a close, we held a final ceremony for reflection. This was a crucial moment of self-care for all of us, where we allowed ourselves to accept the weight of our own realities and emotions. We reminded ourselves and our fellow riders that ignoring personal struggles only weighs us down, and we must allow ourselves to feel in order to move forward. Our final act was performing our educational shows to two groups of Goldi Chicken employees at their processing plant, ending our journey on a high note of enthusiastic awareness creation.
The October 2025 Flagship Ride was a resounding success and a powerful execution of the Sawubona spirit. We continue to be committed to spreading hope and the message of early detection across South Africa.
Want to learn more about cancer? You can connect with our educational ChatBot, Thuto, by saving this number: 010 442 5324 and sending a WhatsApp message that says “Hi.”
