Women’s Power Lunch for CANSA: Take back your Power

On Sunday, 10 September, Kong will be joining forces with Mrs South Africa finalist Bayanda Gumede for a wonderful Ladies Power Lunch in order to raise funds for CANSA.

More about the event

Be inspired, empowered, and equipped with valuable tactics to change your life by attending the Women’s Power Lunch For CANSA. Listen to the experiences of some of the most powerful and influential women while connecting with other like-minded women. If you are looking to grow personally, professionally, and even spiritually, this is the luncheon is for you!

About the CANSA Foundation

The Cancer Association of South Africa’s (CANSA’s) purpose is to lead the fight against cancer in South Africa by offering a unique, integrated service to the public which involves holistic cancer care and support to all people affected by cancer.

Its mission is to be the preferred non-profit leader that enables research, educates the public and provides support to all people affected by cancer.

CANSA provides a unique integrated service to the public and all people affected by cancer. As a leading role-player in cancer research (more than R12 million spent annually), the scientific findings and knowledge gained from their research is used to realign their health programs as well as strengthen their watchdog role to the greater benefit of the public. Their health programs comprises health and education campaigns, CANSA care centers that offer a wide range care and support services to those affected by cancer, offer stoma and other clinical support and organisational management, medical equipment hire as well as a toll-free line to offer information and support. They also supply patient care and support in the form 11 CANSA care homes in the main metropolitan areas for out-of-town cancer patients plus one hospitium based in Polokwane, as well as CANSA TLC Lodging for parents and guardians of children undergoing cancer treatment.

About the organiser

Bayanda Gumede is co-founder and owner of children’s clothing brand Skates and Candy, which manufactures and sells children’s clothing and accessories. Skates and Candy was formed by her sister and herself after they had their first daughters. They realised the need for an online store that offers comfortable, stylish, gender neutral and age appropriate children’s clothing and accessories. Ultimately, they set out to revolutionise the children’s clothing industry. With both having babies born just a two months apart, they were taken aback by the lack of choice in children’s clothing in South Africa, and also more broadly across the globe.

Skates and Candy is determined to move away from your typical pink and blue clichés. Being mothers ourselves, we knew exactly what we wanted for our children, and that wasn’t readily available. Shortly after the first hectic 6 months of motherhood were over, with new babies, feeding and sleeping all under control, Skates and Candy was born. And after months of design and development, the first Summer range was produced. They have made the kind of clothes that we would buy for their own kids. Their range places an emphasis on practicality and accessibility making it easy and affordable to dress your baby while also injecting effortless style into their every day. Their kids are our main source of inspiration and Skates and Candy would not be possible without them. One of their biggest passions about the brand is that their kids play a big role in S & C and they love the chaos. They have recently introduced a ladies range for trendy moms.

Skates and Candy has been featured in publications such as Cosmopolitan Magazine, Destiny Magazine and various other business magazines and newspapers. As a co-owner of Skates and Candy they were finalists for a women’s entrepreneurship award in 2016.

More about her Mrs South Africa Journey from her perspective

I’m currently a Mrs South Africa 2017 finalist! What an exciting journey this has been. Mrs. South Africa is not the typical beauty pageant. It offers married South African women who have real-life careers, families, and hobbies a platform to make a difference and to empower women across South Africa. Glamour and sophistication are part of the criteria, but the women who enter and win all have those relatable stories that inspire other women.

I entered Mrs South Africa because I thought the exposure would be good for our brand, Skates and Candy. Secondly, I was at a stage of my life where I felt like I needed to challenge myself. This pageant has turned out to be so much more than what I expected it to be. It has left me feeling inspired to become a better version of myself by taking better care of myself, those around me and becoming more involved in my community. I am constantly surrounded by beautiful, intelligent and goal driven women who started off as my competitors, but whom I now regard as my friends. We call it the sisterhood.

My mission is to be an advocate for women empowerment by inspiring and supporting South African women. I have chosen to a woman empowerment workshop where all the proceeds from this event will go towards the CANSA FOUNDATION. The theme of the workshop will be finding balance between being a woman, wife, mother whilst succeeding in a predominantly male dominated corporate and business environment.

We are encouraging all our clients, friends and family to purchase a ticket and be part of what will be an exceptionally special event to raise money for such a worthy cause.

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