The Springbok Women have joined Project Flamingo, supported by Engen SA, in a campaign called 'Make Room for Her' that links women's sport with women's health advocacy, specifically around breast cancer awareness and access to care.
To mark the launch, Babalwa Latsha, Nadine Roos, Insaf Levy, Chumisa Qawe and Aimee Barrett-Theron visited Dr Liana Roodt, Founder and CEO of Project Flamingo, and the multidisciplinary care team at Groote Schuur Hospital's breast clinic.
Barrett-Theron, who stepped away from international refereeing in July to focus on breast cancer treatment, has remained close to the Bok Women's programme — most recently assisting with scrums ahead of the team's September Test against the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium. She described the partnership as a natural alignment. "The two entities run along similar lines. On the field, we advocate for women in the rugby space, and Project Flamingo advocates in the medical space," she said.
Captain Latsha emphasised the educational value of the initiative. "It is such an important cause because it's a problem that affects women. The education element is so important and now we are equipped with relevant information in our own team and can also pass it on."