The 2016 Sanlam Cancer Challenge, South Africa’s biggest charity golf drive for the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), is already well on track to shattering its previous fundraising record.
The nationwide competition for club golfers is now into its Regional Final’s for the victorious men’s and women’s club champions around the country.
The winners of the Regional Finals will then qualify for the National Finals to be played on both the Gary Player Country Club and Lost City Golf Club courses at Sun City from 9-12 October.
But the tournament has already raised R3 323 259.12 this year thanks to an incredible response from South Africa’s amateur golfers.
Last year the Sanlam Cancer Challenge raised R3.4 million, which was the highest since the tournament began in 1993.
“We set ourselves the target of R3.5 million this year and we’re delighted to see that we’re well on our way to achieving this, thanks to the generous support of South Africa’s golfers and golf clubs,” said Sanlam Sponsorship Manager, Gary van Loggerenberg.
The standout contributions this year included the R350 000 raised by the Magersfontein Memorial Golf Estate and the 120 golfers who took part in their club competition.
The men’s and ladies sections at Fancourt also came together to raise R175 000 at their official Sanlam Cancer Challenge golf day, while Steenberg Golf Estate’s ladies section raised R19 000 of their own.
Even the smallest golf clubs in the country contributed significantly, such as Koffiefontein Golf Club in the Free State which managed to raise R6 200 amongst the 32 golfers who took part in their golf day.
For more information go to www.sanlamcancerchallenge.co.za
About the Sanlam Cancer Challenge and CANSA
Sanlam and CANSA have partnered the Sanlam Cancer Challenge since 1993. CANSA offers a unique integrated service to the public and all people affected by cancer. As a leading roleplayer in cancer research (more than R6 million spent annually), the scientific findings and knowledge gained from the research is used to realign CANSA’s health programmes as well as strengthen its watchdog role to the greater benefit of the public. CANSA’s wide-reaching health programmes include prevention and education campaigns, CANSA Care Centres that offer stoma and lymphoedema clinics, medical equipment hire, toll-free line and support to children and their families affected by cancer. There is also patient care and support in the form of 11 CANSA Care Homes for out-of-town cancer patients in the main metropolitan areas plus one hospitium (based in Polokwane) as well as two CANSA-TLC Lodges for paediatric oncology parents in Pretoria and Limpopo. Follow CANSA on Twitter: @CANSA (http://www.twitter.com/@CANSA) and join CANSA on Facebook: CANSA: Fighting cancer in South Africa (http://www.facebook.com/groups/25164487668/), visit www.cansa.org.za or call toll-free 0800 22 66 22 email: info@cansa.org.za.
The purpose of the Sanlam Cancer Challenge is to raise funds and awareness annually for the fight against cancer. In 2015, a total of 35 863 golfers played in 780 club competitions held around the country in support of CANSA’s prevention programmes and patient care support throughout the year. Visit www.sanlamcancerchallenge.co.za.