Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer beneficiaries upbeat about support

Inge Human, Manager at Wings and Wishes, left, and Michelle van Huyssteen, Reach for a Dream National Finance Manager.

GQBERHA - The 2023 Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer beneficiaries are excited about the support they will receive from the event this year.

The beneficiaries of the 25^th iteration of the Big Walk for Cancer are Reach for a Dream and Wings and Wishes. Both organisations fulfil an important role by providing additional support to children with life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and leukaemia, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, renal failure, and various blood disorders.

Celebrating its 35^th year, Reach for a Dream has fulfilled thousands of dreams since inception. Often a dream includes meeting a celebrity, visiting a tourist attraction, meeting someone they aspire to be like, or experiencing an exciting activity, or to own something like a toy or tablet. The average dream costs about R10 000 explains Lwanele Mpeta, Eastern Cape Regional Manager, which usually includes a meal with the child’s closest supporters. “A dream experience is based on four pillars: courage, hope, confidence and family time,” said Mpeta.

The Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer donation to Reach for a Dream, will include the purchase of laptops and tablets. “This donation will provide our dreamers the opportunity to connect with their families while in hospital, do research as well as complete school assignments, learn, and develop as they will resultantly have access to the world. It gives them a future perspective which is so important in manifesting hope while they undergo treatment,” Mpeta said.

Locally founded Wings and Wishes on the other hand is dedicated to transporting critically and chronically ill children to and from their lifesaving specialist medical care. Wings and Wishes is so much more than just a bus trip or a flight ticket. They are the light in the dark tunnel for families navigating the journey with a sick child, removing some of the stress and worry, and allowing parents to focus on the wellbeing of their child.

“Transport should never be a barrier for a child to access expert medical care. The biggest challenge is that the Eastern Cape is extremely rural across a vast province with expert medical care for children requiring oncology, only available at Frere Hospital in East London or PE Provincial Hospital in Gqeberha,” said Inge Human, Manager at Wings and Wishes.

By funding their transport needs Wings and Wishes ensures that children who suffer from life threatening illnesses never miss an appointment and that they always arrive on time for their treatment, reducing preventable and premature child mortality rates. “The Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer will help us cover transportation costs. We currently have four children from the province who need specialised cancer treatment in the Western Cape. This means they need to travel every four weeks for treatment at a significant cost,” said Human.

Both organisations urge the communities from George, East London and Gqeberha, to register and participate in the Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer. “The support from the walkers will give hope to our children and enable us to provide them with the courage to keep on fighting,” said Human and Mpeta.

Human has never missed a Big Walk, which means that this will be the 25^th time that she walks for cancer.