SHE fought tirelessly to spread awareness on cancer and five months after her death, a tree will be planted in honour of Nancy Muinjo, better known as Chi-Chi.
The bubbly media personality, who lost the fight against breast cancer, will be honoured by her peers at the ‘A Pink Tree’ event where a tree will be named after Chi-Chi on Monday, 12 October, at Zoo Park in Windhoek’s city centre.
On the symbolism of the tree and what the ceremony means to her family, Chi-Chi’s brother Clint Muinjo said that the tree is a symbol of growth and strength. “This tree represents strength, its roots are strong. It is also a symbol of a life well lived and when it finally grows bigger, people will seek shade under it,” he told The Namibian yesterday. Muinjo added that just as their parents cared for them until they were older and wiser, the tree’s growth will hopefully also show signs of improvement from the care it will receive and that all will be in awe of what it will become one day, just as people were with the late Chi-Chi.
The initiative is the brainchild of one of Chi-Chi’s friends, Sharlene Bergh. “As a friend of Nancy’s who also had breast cancer and fought with her – it was her wish that we carry on with the awareness campaign. Her motto was: putting the can in cancer. She was busy with a TV documentary on this but due to her illness could not see the end version. I promised to carry on – and even though I can never fill her shoes, I hope this event will become an annual event in memory of Nancy’s legacy.”
While alive, Chi-Chi took to YouTube to tell her story and encourage others to get tested for cancer and talk about their experiences.
The planting of the tree will take place at 18h30 and members of the public are invited to attend free of charge. The tree is dedicated to Namibian women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and also in memory of Chi-Chi’s dedication to cancer awareness. It is sponsored by the Paramount Healthcare Centre where she spent her last days.
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