WE lost many immediate family members throughout the years due to cancer. Most died of breast cancer and were mostly females but we also lost one male, a nephew who was in his 30s, which was unheard of at the time — a male with breast cancer. So, we endured our sorrow.
We created our Selepeo Strong team several years ago to join the March Against Cancer that never happened due to Covid. At the inception of the creation of our family team, we had friends that had purchased luminary candles from us despite not being family members and those dear friends whom the luminaries were brought for will be remembered and honored finally with this year’s event.
As a cancer survivor myself, I am overwhelmed with the scary and tormenting thoughts of my future that is starring into a limited timeline. I thought of my older siblings, my uncle, a nephew, close relatives, and friends who had died of cancer and whispered a wishful prayer that they are happy, knowing that they are in a better, peaceful place. The thought of my two friends holding their hands tightly and tenderly hugging as they succumbed into the abyss of their time still brings me to tears to this day. These friends were Bernie Mitchell and Alicia Tomokane. Presently, we have two immediate family members with breast cancer undergoing treatment. One of them is a young mother who recently gave birth in February who breastfeeds her baby on one breast while the other breast bleeds. Cancer is not a nice disease and does not discriminate!
So, in moving forward, I thought of creating a family group with a theme that will support and encourage Love, Support, and Hope. A theme that can bring us to hope, to stay alive and to stay strong. We have invited other families and friends who were or are touched by this terror — this beast, to join our survival crusade, to stay stronger together.
Thus, our Selepeo Strong theme got created and, regardless if you are not blood-related, we welcome you into our group with Love, Blessings, and Hope. Stay Strong!
