KwaZulu-Natal, 9 June 2025 — In a world increasingly driven by digital noise and commercial distractions, Gateway Theatre of Shopping turned its attention to something deeply human this weekend. Teaming up with Living with Cancer SA, the centre marked International Cancer Survivors Day with a bold, heartfelt activation, reminding everyone that beyond the checkout counters and branded bags, stories still matter.

The campaign’s message was clear: Your Cancer Counts. Locals were invited to write the names of loved ones affected by cancer onto coloured balls, placing them within a towering ribbon structure in the centre court. It became a slow, evolving memorial — a collective art piece formed by grief, survival and solidarity.

For Ayesha Sewbaran, Gateway’s Marketing Manager, the moment was personal. “I wrote my uncle’s name,” she shared. “It was emotional, but grounding too. This initiative isn’t just about what we’ve lost, it’s about what we can still change.”

This wasn’t just performance activism either. The event helped kickstart South Africa’s first patient-led cancer registry, a much-needed move in a country where local health data is often underreported or overlooked. Visitors could anonymously log their own experiences or those of loved ones, adding to a growing record that might finally reshape how cancer is monitored in South Africa.

The four-day line-up included talks by survivors, medical professionals and community figures. One unforgettable moment came from Kesavan Govender, a former Gateway Facilities Manager and Durban North resident, who shared his candid battle with Glioblastoma. His message? Get checked. Speak up. Stay connected.

A rare show of authentic community spirit in a retail space, this event proved that meaningful public moments still exist — if we’re willing to show up.

For more, visit livingwithcancersa.co.za or Gateway’s official site: gatewayworld.co.za. Follow the latest on Instagram via @gatewayumhlanga.

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