Windhoek — "It is with humility that I announce the 19th consecutive partnership year of FNB and the Cancer Association of Namibia. For 17 consecutive years we proudly supported the Carnations-Against-Cancer project, last year FNB and the Cancer Association agreed to inject freshness into the concept changing it from carnations to music, where FNB sponsored the Cinderella Opera which was a resounding success," said Ian Leyenaar, CEO of FNB at the launch of the FNB Bandanna campaign in collaboration with the Cancer Association of Namibia.

Leyenaar justified why FNB moved away from the carnations campaign saying that: "The reason for the change was due to the exorbitant costs of the Carnations-Against-Cancer project that no longer supported the objectives of the project. This year we have changed the campaign from music to textile adopting a universal concept to show support for cancer patients; bandanas that is."

Leyenaar said that bandanna gained their origin from handkerchiefs or sherfones and females traditionally wore them.

"Nowadays bandannas are gender neutral and are internationally accepted as a unisex-fashion with more men seen wearing them. I am told that even the youth are keen to wear bandanas and FNB views the use of the bandana concept as highly innovative. Through fashion, we hope to punt an important message to demonstrate awareness of cancer in a highly visible way," he said.

Leyenaar added: "Cancer is an indiscriminate disease with which any person, irrespective of their background and social status, can become infected. I am sure all of us here today know of or have had a close family member that has or had cancer in one form or another.

"We at FNB deemed it appropriate to position our strong brand and our business philosophy of 'How can we help you?' to reach out to our fellow Namibians diagnosed with cancer, working together with the Cancer Association of Namibia, to offer our support as a caring organisation advocating health and wellness as a fundamental human right."

He committed that the whole FNB Namibia family will be involved in the fundraising effort and all FNB branches and staff countrywide will actively promote and sell bandanas to our customers and the general public in their respective communities.