 So much about fashion for cancer. Let me begin, let's begin from Cindy. So Cindy Karibusana. I see that you're wearing something beautiful. Yeah, I am wearing crown and a stash. Alright, so tell us who. So Cindy, you are the beauty of Africa international pageant. Yeah. So beauty of Africa international pageant is a pageant which was held first in Kenya but it's an international pageant which usually is held in Nigeria. So in Kenya we had 37 counties participating. We held it on August 10th and I emerged the winner of this year. And I proceeded to Nigeria where we had the event held on October 5th and again I emerged the winner of the whole Africa. Wow, congratulations. Thank you so much. And I know that you don't have those Nigerian things. No, I'm still loading for it. I'm still loading for it. Alright, let's go over to the other side. Of course today we have two beautiful young ladies and of course I want to introduce Miss Platinum Credit. Tell us. So my name is Diana Kaetja. Miss Platinum Credit. Amazing. Platinum Credit is our microfinance. We usually lend loans. And we are really interested in CSR giving back to the society. Yes. Alright, now let's go to the man himself, Mark. Welcome to this thing. Thank you. So cool, so calm and collected. Are you a professor by any chance? Not really. I hope it will become one. Very soon it will become one. Okay, now let's talk about, you know, you've come with these two beautiful young ladies and you're talking about fashion for cancer. You were there something sort of a director but directors are quite a number of them. But you just turned in for fashion for cancer. What is it all about? My name is Mark Wandera. I volunteer with an organization called Breast Cancer Kenya. So Breast Cancer Kenya basically is an NGO that basically looks after cancer patients. So what we have coming up is what we call fashion for cancer. Ideally when people hear about cancer, it becomes a death sentence. So we want to bring the other live side of, it's not supposed to be a death sentence so to speak, there's life after cancer. So in that case we want to use fashion to be able to create awareness and tell the people out there that it can be done. When you get tested early and it's treated, it can actually come out strong and looking actually really really good. So that's the whole idea about fashion for cancer. Alright, hand me to understand this. What's fashion and then we have cancer because oftentimes when you're treated or are diagnosed with cancer, as you have said before, most people tend to think that it's a death sentence and sometimes even people say like, I don't want treatment. Let me just do this in a very shift way. What's the relation? The reason why we picked fashion for the whole idea is basically about self-esteem. So the moment you dress well, you look good, it helps you boost your self-esteem. So once you're diagnosed with cancer, most of the people tend to withdraw from the social life, so your esteem goes down. So the whole idea about using fashion for cancer is basically to bring life back. That you're wealthy, you come out strong and your confidence goes up. So ideally is when your confidence goes up, you're able to do so much, you can achieve your dreams and you can do so much. So fashion basically is to give those who come out a second chance to be confident again, to feel wealthy again in front of people and be able to go back to their normal life. That's why you went for fashion. Alright Mark, how many groups do you have with cancer patients? Currently we work with a network of organization under what we call KENCO, the Kenya network of cancer organizations in Kenya. Cancer or cancer? Cancer organizations in Kenya. They have 34 organizations and breast cancer Kenya is among them. So you're just a part of the entire body? Part of a whole group. Alright. Customize. Why choose cancer and not any other because anyway we have quite a number of these cardiovascular diseases and quite a number of them. Why these? As we speak today, I think there was this issue about we've lost some of our prominent people over cancer and the whole idea is when we become really serious about the whole topic and everything. So what we thought about it is we're all affected in one way or another. So you have a friend, probably you've lost a friend through cancer, either family or a member or anything like that. So it's not about the social status at the end of the day. It could be you today, it could be the next person tomorrow. So you want to make sure that we spread the word out there. You need to get checked today. People who have been diagnosed with cancer are not so unique. It can get to anybody. Let me come over to you Cindy. What's the issue that you have for fashion for cancer? I'm actually so excited about this because I don't think anyone in Kenya has even incorporated fashion and cancer before. It's for the person that we're hearing. I'm so excited because at least we are able to showcase the fashion and also care about the cancer patients in this event. You have won already a title which by chance happens to be international, not local. What do you plan? It's good to be clear, it's international. They come through a lot of challenges but what do you plan to impact towards these cancer patients? Before winning the international pageant, I was already working with Mr. Mark. We started working long ago and I'm just in to help the cancer patients in each and any way through the fashion for cancer. What precisely would you like to say about the size that you have? What precisely do you help in? I do help in buying the kids for the cancer patients because you're planning on raising some funds to at least buy care kits for the cancer patients. Mark will be talking about that later on about the kit. Let me come over to you and let me ask you also having your own title and it's proud. Kiliam say wuku wa hand by these. Everyone hands these. Like us, they're just cool. They're playing it safe. What's your main objective for cancer, for fashion for cancer? First of all, I'm really excited about this because I'm really passionate about the human dignity. You see the stigma around the cancer patients. I really like them to live a normal life and see even the loss of hair as another fashion, just fashion so their lives are normal. So my objective is to create awareness first of all and the youth are one of our main I think the youth in Niraesiku to spread the word. We're going to spread the word through media first of all so our objective is creating awareness visiting patients so that they don't feel alone. And the kids, we need to provide the kids for them. There's the one that is revolving around but before we even talk about the one that is kids, someone is wondering what these are key things about. We will be talking about that but let me ask you Mark about the issue of stigmatization quite really affecting most cancer patients and some of them have even been forced to live their homes to go and look for other ways to try and live. Why would someone stigmatize or rather what's the ground? Recently it was so unfortunate we actually lost someone I think it was in Kiturai. The lady realized she had been diagnosed with cancer and she went and took away her life. So that tells you something that the moment someone hears of cancer they write themselves off that's what I mean they write themselves off. So the whole idea basically is to make sure that the moment you hear cancer you realize that you still have a chance to live a normal life even after going through treatment. Alright and let's talk about probably it would be best to talk about these when you're diagnosed with cancer and you're told this is the thing that will be happening you'll be going through chemo, radiotherapy there's so much that happens around even men but primarily women you get to lose their hair there's so much that happens and the body destabilizes all of a sudden because of the drugs and the like why now venture into these Kit that will be told by Mike what do you think is something that comes out as unique? Okay I think we venture into the Kit just to show them how they are beautiful they are still beautiful without the hair they are still beautiful when the skin is not okay and yeah we just want to show them that cancer is not the end and the side effects of the chemotherapy and everything they have gone through it can also just be helped or be solved in one way or another You can still wear the crown even if you are cancer? Yeah you can still wear it Oh Rufsaam you cannot write off these things let me come back to you Mike Mike probably someone at home is like he kid me like what is this kid thing revolving around each and every one of us what is this kid thing? Yeah just to mention what we call the care kit basically reflects on what a cancer patient goes through it's a simple way of painting a picture of what a cancer patient actually goes through right after they are diagnosed through treatment so the kid has a few items that basically explain the kind of experiences our cancer patients really go through so to speak it's not such a smooth ride because now your body sort of adjusts into due to chemotherapy so I'll mention a few items probably that are in the kit so one of the items in the kit is a water bottle and probably guys are wondering why do we need the water bottle the moment you start chemotherapy you need to rehydrate all the time so that's why we are advocating for the kit to have a good quality water bottle so as you continue let's talk about probably just to give a background image someone who is watching a kid is like that first aid kit but now it compasses now what a cancer patient needs exactly please proceed thank you besides the water bottle we have a wig so some patients tend to lose their hair and you realize what the women normally say is without hair and then for them there is no beauty quote in quote as much as we think probably you lose your hair but you are still a beautiful person either way but I want to believe the same beauty comes from the inside so the wig is just to compliment throughout the life then we have what you call the headphones I know guys are wondering why would a cancer patient need headphones yes when you go through chemotherapy you are put in a certain space where probably you are all alone and we want to remind you that you can also inspire yourself that you have the strength to do this and we all know that music is really therapeutic so at that moment when you go for your treatment even as the doctors leave you to the treatment as the chemo goes on you can probably listen to some really inspiring music so that you keep yourself up keep your spirits up so that's why we need the headphones then as you go through chemotherapy your skin becomes more sensitive so we also advocate for soft soaps the ones that don't have a lot of fragrance too much perfume we do away with that then we also advocate for when it comes to matters tea and coffee we go for tea and coffee that does not have caffeine so ideally the moment your blood starts taking in other external components then there are so many things that changes so that's what we are really advocating for for softer, healthier ways of living as you go through chemotherapy then there's something we call we also have the Masaishuka basically to keep you warm because sometimes can really get cold for cancer patients so like we advocate them to continue their normal lives so that even wherever they are whether they are at work places or anything wherever they are they're still able to cover themselves and continue their normal lives basically the khakis to help the patient continue with their normal life good, thank you very much Mark and I want to come to Diana and ask this Diana she has mentioned quite a number of things headphones, earphones and all this kind of soaps nini, what do you think should be really the most important thing right after from the time you told it's chemo, it's radio what's that one thing that you say this is paramount as per this time so for me I think there should be a talk before to prepare the cancer patient for this journey it's something you're not used to it's like a shock and you have to now adjust to this new transformation so you have to talk to the cancer patient or the survivors first or you talk to them tell them it's normal it's a transformation it's a new phase and you have to be strong in this journey and Cindy let's have a look at it from now on another positive side of it you know to me kwa sayla let's talk now about the fashion day and all that that you guys are planning it's coming up in a short while looking at you you such like looking so good and when somebody is watching from kwa sayla you cannot even understand my situation what do you tell this kind of person I will tell that kind of person such is just a challenge in life which can be easily overcome it's not the end just motivating her from day to day and cancer is treatable when it's recognized in an early stage and here I'll convince the person that it's okay to have that and it's okay to move on with life right Mark tell us about the event that you're planning basically the event is going to be a fashion affair and we're not coming to have a sad situation you know I had to put it in my hand yes the whole idea basically is to tell the world out there both the patient, the survivors the caregivers and any other person who is really interested in helping us come through that this is actually really possible yes the way kipchoga did it we are going to do it yes basically we're telling everyone come looking good because it's an event where we come to feel good and that is the whole idea we need our patients we need our brothers our sisters to come and actually feel good about themselves that is the whole basic symbology about the whole idea come and feel good because when someone is told about cancer we say they just think about writing themselves so what we're telling them is come dress feel good life has to continue of course we're saying something has changed to us but like the way Diana is putting it embrace the new you embrace this new face embrace this new journey and the most important thing we're trying to communicate is you are not alone when this together we will see you through it we are working with you until the end we will make sure you get the dignity you deserve we will make sure you get the best care you deserve and we will try our best and that's why you're not doing this alone we're calling upon everyone to come on board and help give the way Diana is putting it that dignity that they actually deserve the gala is coming up this weekend where will it be? at Kohlan cafe that's where we're going to host the gala night from 6pm to 10pm wow it's a living time yes yes yes so we're inviting you probably probably I might be coming probably you can tell us how much is it the ticket we're not calling it really a ticket it's basically a donation it goes at 1000 shillings so you are targeting to raise around 500k yes and all these amount goes to the cancer patients yes definitely to go and buy the kids now who are these kids who are these patients are they from the same body that you talked about? like myself I come from I represent breast cancer Kenya but we are a part of a large organization called the Kenya Network of Cancer Organizations which you mentioned it's a body it's a body in 34 organizations so each and every organization have their own members so ideally not only our members are going to benefit we are going to share whatever we get with other cancer organizations based on the needs ok if someone probably is at home and saying I'd like to just even if it's just buy that one and come give it in solid cash 6,000 packet alright so packet it's 6k you can of course go and donate it as we are talking about Interpreting issue Tuesday we are going to purchase few things here and there as you tell our cancer patients they still hope yes it's breast cancer awareness month let's begin because women are the most affected bodies let's begin from Diana this is quite something that is really affecting most young ladies and even some of them we know they are in the business sector they are in the market place but when cancer comes they feel like as Mark was saying they feel like it's time now to even keep it low and shut off what's your word for that ok first of all you ok you are not used to such diseases maybe you get malaria you go to the hospital you come back but now this is something we see it as a big deal now let me just cut myself off I'm not fit I cannot go on it's good for people to know before you get you get treated early that's what I'm saying you get treated early breast cancer is that check usually you check every month you check yourself do you do? really? ok I learned recently and usually I check myself so you do? yeah if there's any change you go get checked before it becomes serious Cindy do you? yes I do I even did it yesterday ok Cindy even did it yesterday so as I asked Diana what would you say to someone who has been done with breast cancer? ok I would tell someone who has breast cancer that breast cancer is a disease like any other and it's a disease that can be treated at an early stage and if not she is still beautiful even if she has the breast terminated or what that's not what makes a beauty of a person someone is beautiful from the inside as Mark said awesome now Mark at Normalizia let's call it a day now Mark give us your potential with telling us how can we get to this particular place and how best can we donate if we may not manage to come to the event if you allow I think there's a very important aspect we really forgetting and you've only talked about the women you forgetting the guys the man yes yes so we are not different from them we can also get affected breast cancer? yes yes yes so we really need also to go for checkup and also keep on checking on ourselves but the bottom line is we are guys we have girlfriends we have sisters we have wives they need us to do this yes they might discover something is not really quite okay with them and keep quiet so if you realize there's something that is probably not okay kind of reach out to her and talk to her and advise her to actually go and support her be there the most important is to be there your presence matters yes so sometimes you forget about all this you might send the cash and everything I think the most important thing is be there be there when it all happens that is what counts alright give us your potential because of time please come we are inviting everyone probably can look at this camera okay we are inviting all of you to come for the fashion for cancer this weekend the 19th from 6 to 10pm our tickets are going for 1000 shillings only if you have any donations that you want to make please go to Kulan cafe we have a team assigned there you can drop your donations there and will be really really grateful and lastly I also want to thank our partners we have so many partners who come on board and then helping us to do this I would love to mention all of them but kindly for giving the interest we are watching in the interest of time just know we are really grateful for coming on board and supporting us and also to Diana and Cindy we also want to thank them and the rest of the team who are actually doing this we really appreciate it and I bet they are really into this yes definitely let me give you each one of 30 seconds just a parting shot I want to say thank you so much for Mr. Mark first for starting this because it's actually thinking out of the box to help cancer patients in this manner and also thank you for all the people who are sponsoring us and who are in the team with us and thank you first of all I thank God for him and the idea that came this is a very noble cause to support the cancer patients and I would like to tell every person who has been diagnosed with cancer that there is still life just leave it and don't look back don't think it's something out of the ordinary it's just a disease like any other so yeah live life don't confuse death and life yeah just live yeah thanks Mrs. Diana are you on any social media platform for the fashion for cancer you are kindly give us apparently we're only on one which is where we want to focus on right now we're on Facebook go check Breast Cancer Kenya and you'll get all the information there alright thanks so much guys for making time and being with our student talking about cancer and fashion something that is coming up and really huge many thanks for keeping time and making time for us rather and it's always an honour and a privilege to have you once a morning from 7 all through to 10 we're not yet done very coming up next so much and yet so much that is ready to unleash well from me it's a very good morning we are back so thanks very much for coming big up on yourself