In a bid to enlighten golfers against the deadly disease called cancer, the Ibadan Golf Club (IGC) has concluded plans to host the fourth edition of an annual golf event tagged: Cancer Awareness Golf Tournament between 10th and 11th December.
The unique golf tourney was conceptualized by a concerned golfer and former Lady Captain of IGC, Mrs. Lizzy Afonja who claimed to have lost scores of loved ones to cancer, but believed enough awareness about cancer, using golf could reduce the scourge.
While briefing newsmen in Ibadan ahead of the event, Afonja, the initiator of the tourney expressed her grief over the loss of over 20 people to the deadly disease which made her champion advocacy on the awareness against cancer using golf for the past four years.
“We are using this golf tournament to carry out advocacies against the deadly disease called cancer; it is killing people around us irrespective of age or background. The campaign is to enlighten people on how to tackle it if the symptoms are noticed early in the body.
“Consulting for advice from medical practitioners should be the first thing to do and not going to spiritualists for prayers, I’m not saying people should not pray about cancer cases but seeking immediate medical solution should be the first step, lots have lost their lives from ill-advice from pastors who told them not to go for surgery.
“Cancer can happen in any part of your body, it’s very painful to me because I have lost many loved ones to cancer, for the past 24 years I have lost over 20 friends, and that was why I came up with this idea to use golf to advocate for cancer awareness whereby doctors will come around and enlighten us about scourge”, Afonja noted.
She however expressed happiness over the success recorded during the first three editions held while noting that more than 150 golfers are expected this year going by the interest shown by participants.
