Denise Williams, Rayghanah Cassiem, and Loraika Pillay have opened up about their cancer journeys, sharing their stories to inspire those who are taking part in the upcoming 2025 Totalsports Women’s Race.
South Africa (11 June 2025) – Three remarkable women are lacing up their running shoes, not just for the finish line, but for something much deeper. Denise Williams, Rayghanah Cassiem, and Loraika Pillay are preparing to take part in the 2025 Totalsports Women’s Race in Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. Their stories are stitched with pain, perseverance, and each one is a message of hope.
Set to unfold over three weekends this August, the Totalsports Women’s Race is more than just a race. It’s a celebration of women’s strength, resilience, and community. It’s also a lifeline: proceeds support PinkDrive, a breast cancer awareness organisation that provides vital screening and educational services to communities across South Africa.
For Denise Williams, this year’s race marks seven years of remission after a breast cancer diagnosis in 2016. “I tackled the battle head-on,” she says from her home in uMhlanga.
“My family, friends, and colleagues stood by me every step of the way.”
Denise speaks of the friend who stayed with her every weekend during chemotherapy, of the “cancer sisters” she met at the oncology centre, and of her own conscious decision to seek out healing, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
“Events like the Totalsports Women’s Race help me stay motivated,” she says. “The vibe is electric, and the cause it supports is incredibly close to my heart. I count my blessings daily.”
Rayghanah Cassiem of Cape Town knows just how long the road can be. Diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2005, she was told she had five years to live. Two decades later, she’s still here,and thriving.
“I didn’t accept the diagnosis. Before cancer, I existed. After treatment, I started living,” she says.
That journey has included hiking, dragon boat paddling, and dozens of races. Even after her cancer returned in her breastbone, Stage 4, incurable, she chose to live fully, with purpose.
Rayghanah lives by three words: Attitude, Believe, Choice.
“The race is a beautiful reminder of how far I’ve come. We’re not just running—we’re raising awareness. We’re saving lives.”
For Loraika Pillay, from Gauteng, the diagnosis came much more recently. In 2023, she was told she had Stage 2 breast cancer. The months that followed were filled with chemotherapy, surgery, and the aching uncertainty every survivor knows too well. But one moment still stands out.
“My surgeon called to say there was no evidence of the tumour. I had responded well to treatment,” she recalls. “I was given another chance to create memories with my little girl. More days were added to my life—and I knew I had to add life to those days.”
In 2024, while still in recovery, Loraika walked her first Totalsports Women’s Race.
“I didn’t think I’d make it halfway,” she says, smiling. “But the crowd, the music, the energy—it carried me. I crossed that finish line in tears. That feeling? You can’t put it into words.”
Now, in 2025, she’s back, stronger, wiser, and even more determined.
Each step these women take is a step toward greater awareness. Each heartbeat is a tribute to the lives already lost, and a celebration of those still being lived. For many who’ll gather on race day, this won’t just be a personal challenge; it will be a shared act of courage, community, and care.
And when the crowd surges forward on race day, among the cheers and laughter, there will be something even louder: the sound of hope running free.
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