A mountain of gold to highlight childhood cancers

The iconic Table Mountain lit up in gold for the fighters and survivors and those who have died from childhood cancer. The international awareness symbol for Childhood Cancer is a gold ribbon, which symbolises all forms of cancer affecting children and adolescents, unlike other ribbons, which focus on one particular cancer.

By Nardus Engelbrecht

7 Oct

The iconic Table Mountain lit up for the fighters and survivors and those who have passed away from childhood cancer in Cape Town Tuesday, October, 6, 2020. The international awareness symbol for Childhood Cancer is a gold ribbon. This ribbon symbolises all forms of cancer affecting children and adolescents, unlike other ribbons, which focus on one particular cancer. Photo: Nardus Engelbrecht

The Table Mountain Goes Gold for the Fighters and Survivors of Childhood Cancer is the brainchild of Karen van Wyk, 35, from Camps Bay. The mother of Annabelle, who was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was three-and-a-half years old. Annabelle, now six, finished her chemo last year in December.

According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), the five most prevalent childhood cancers in South Africa are:

– Leukaemia

– Lymphoma (tumours that begin in the lymph glands)

– Brain tumours

– Nephroblastomas or Wilms tumours – cancer of the kidneys

– Soft tissue sarcomas (tumours that begin in the connective tissue).