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4 May 2012 - Prince Albert Golf Club may have just a handful of members, but the community of the sleepy hamlet in the Central Karoo has an excellent reputation for uniting for an important cause. And when this year’s 20th Sanlam Cancer Challenge teed off, Prince Albert once again responded by raising R18 200 for the fight against cancer.

“Over the last four years, Prince Albert Golf Club and the community here has really rallied to support the Sanlam Cancer Challenge, but this year we have really thrown down the gauntlet by showing them just how to step up to the plate for a great cause like cancer prevention and research,” said Christine Snyman, chairman of the local chapter for the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).

With just R660 in the kitty from the 11 members who entered this year’s challenge, Snyman, her CANSA committee and the golf club executive took their plight to the community, who responded with great country gusto.

“We have always relied on the community and the people from Prince Albert have always supported the Sanlam Cancer Challenge, but this year they rallied like never before,” said Snyman. Donations flooded in, including two kudus, three sheep, cakes and gifts for the auction, and nearly all the trappings for a sit-down dinner at the golf club to the count of 140 people. “We received just about everything we needed to feed 140 people at a gala dinner, including meat and sausage, pap and sauce, vegetables, salads, breads and a generous helping of vinegar pudding and custard each,” Snyman explained. Tickets were sold at R60 a head and the club was packed to the rafters.

“In fact, we had an overspill of about 40 people, who kindly took their meals outside. We may have to consider a marquise tent next year. And whatever was left over, was sold at the end of the night.” Snyman said the auction, which follows the dinner and has become a popular annual attraction, surpassed her greatest expectations. “The club captain and secretary, Evert van Zyl and Rynardt Botes, each donated a sheep, while two local farmers, Hennie du Plessis and Faan de Wit, donated a kudu each for our Sanlam Cancer Challenge auction.“Marelize Vorster donated three cakes, valued around R100 each. They were auctioned for R200 to R300 apiece, put back on auction by the buyers and sold again, bringing in over R1000. Cecile Olckers also gifted us the most beautiful jewellery and gift baskets from her gift shop for the auction.“Bergwater Wines also donated a five litre bottle, valued at R800, which sold at auction for R1500.” And even the local butchery got in on the action. “Two of our members, Das Olivier and Johan Fourie, who own the Karoo Slaghuis, filled a large glass jar with bottle tops,” Van Zyl explained. “For R10 a ticket, people guessed the amount of tops in the jar and the butchers donated a sheep for the winner. They also made a killing.”

After all was said and done, the Prince Albert community raised their 2011 effort by more than R5 000 and certainly raised the bar for the rest of the county. “It is CANSA’s 80th birthday and the 20th anniversary of the Sanlam Cancer Challenge, so let’s make this year’s Cancer Challenge one to remember,” said Snyman.Sanlam Sponsorship Manager Gary van Loggerenberg said the efforts of Prince Albert Golf Club epitomises the spirit of the Sanlam Cancer Challenge. “The golfing community is one of CANSA’s strongest allies. Prince Albert Golf Club have not only set the bar for other golf clubs around the country, but they’ve shown how a community can pull together and join in the fight against cancer.

“The Sanlam Cancer Challenge is a tournament that enables club golfers anywhere in the country to do something positive and make a real impact through the game they love.” The Sanlam Cancer Challenge’s significant status in South African golf will be recognised in the South African Golf Hall of Fame at the Oubaai Golf Estate near George, where the tournament will be permanently showcased. The nationwide club competitions will take place from March to July, the Regional Finals from August to September, and culminating in the Finals at Sun City on both the Gary Player Country Club and Lost City Golf Club courses in October. Read more about the Sanlam Cancer Challenge...

For more information please contact our Toll Free Call Centre on 0800 22 66 22 or email us at info@cansa.org.za