The Namibian leg of the annual Sanlam Cancer Golf Challenge officially came to a close with the Namibian Finals held in Windhoek during August 2006. The six winners of these Finals (three male, three female) will now participate in the competition at SanLameer, Kwazulu Natal, where they will compete against all the finalists of South Africa in early October.

Fourteen golf clubs from all over Namibia participated in the event this year. The project is part of the larger Sanlam SA drive, and raises funds for the Cancer Associations of Namibia and South Africa respectively, for the vital services these organizations render to all communities in Namibia and South Africa. From March till July +/- 750 clubs throughout South Africa and Namibia play in this Cancer Challenge with an average of approximately 40 000 players taking part. Namibian clubs participating during 2006 were: Henties Bay, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Okahandja, Windhoek, Gobabis, Tsumeb, Grootfontein, Otjiwarongo, Rosh Pinah, Oranjemund, Mariental, Karasburg and Keetmanshoop. The group of finalists about the participate at SanLameer include two junior players – a good indication that the Challenge also supports development golf in Namibia.

Funds raised during the annual Sanlam Cancer Golf Challenge are utilised for research, for educating the Nation on the importance of a healthy lifestyle, as well as for a number of community-based services such as patient facilitation, counselling, day care, interim housing and support services. The Cancer Association of Namibia, being the sole beneficiary of the Namibian drive, is a non-profit organization that relies on donors, sponsors and fundraising events like the Sanlam Namibia Cancer Golf Challenge to raise funds for these important services. We at Sanlam Namibia are proud to have built such a strong relationship with this body and we applaud them for a job well done.

Sanlam Namibia and the Cancer Association of Namibia would like to thank all our sponsors for their generous contributions and also the players for taking part in this very noble event. Appreciation also goes to our clubs and Sanlam Namibia staff for their assistance. It is our pleasure, at the end of this thirteenth year of the Namibian leg of the Sanlam Cancer Golf Challenge, to donate the amount of N$230 000.00 to the Cancer Association of Namibia.