In a bid to create awareness for cancer in the country, Nollywood filmmaker and Lagos State lawmaker, Hon. Desmond Elliot will on February 24, 2018 lead a 5km awareness walk in Surulere, Lagos.
The 5km walk which is organised by Atinuke Cancer Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation founded by cancer survivor, Atinuke Lawal, is scheduled to hold between 8:30am and 10:30am. However, before the start of the walk, there would be free health check for about 500 people and low tempo aerobics. After the walk, there will be a 40-minute novelty football match between female and male celebrities.
“I lost my aunt to breast cancer,” said Elliot whose birthday falls on February 4, being World Cancer Day.
He explained: “I discovered that she had detected it on time but she didn’t manage it. A lot of these people need love. Once you detect early, you have every chance that you can fight against it. And I said, to honour my aunt, it’s my mum’s birthday and to honour her, we decided to do this walk. So, it’s just grouping everything together into one. So, everything just seemed like we needed to get this going and there is no point being a ‘celebrity’ or a member of the parliament if you’re not able to lend your voice towards such causes. This is calling on well-meaning Nigerians to come join the walk on that day.”
Atinuke Lawal started the cancer awareness in December 2016 ‘as a result of my exposure to knowledge of lack of medical facilities for the treatment of cancer, the state of cancer treatment/patients and stigmatization of cancer patients in Nigeria’ after she was treated for cancer in Nigeria.
“As a survivor myself, my team and I are proud to provide excellent and compassionate assistance to patients,” she said.
“Our foundation conducts such event annually to support, raise awareness, educate, inform, advocate, motivate or inspire not only the patients but families of patients and the general public. We understand that cancer is a bully and no respecter of no-one, hence our slogan and group name ‘LET’S KILL IT!’ Cancer must be eradicated.
“Because we realise that Nigerians hate to discuss or hear about cancer, we decided to bring the message as subtle as possible by introducing entertainment while actually passing the awareness message through football and Nollywood which Nigerians love.”
She is however happy that her message is getting to the appropriate quarters.