Kloofendal resident hikes Tankwa Camino for disabled children
KLOOFENDAL – Local resident, Rozette Botha, will hike for the Queen Butterfly Foundation.
Local resident, Rozette Botha, has decided to achieve her personal goals while carrying the dreams of the Queen Butterfly Foundation.
Botha is set to hike Tankwa Camino, a 256.6km trail through the Tankwa Karoo.
A lover of nature and hiker, Botha has wanted to challenge herself with a long hike but wanted to make it extra special by doing it for a worthy cause.
A search of local non-profit organisations led her to the Queen Butterfly Foundation, a centre for severely disabled children. However, it was not only the foundation’s proximity to Botha that made her want to provide support. Botha’s son, Ruan, died of an illness at the age of five months and 21 days, which would have left him severely disabled and in need of a centre such as the foundation had he lived.
In memory of her son, who would have been 21 years old last year, she reached out to the foundation which is in need of finding their own premises. Together their target amount to be raised is R100 000.
Botha is currently preparing for the feat by walking on the road during the week and walking trails on the weekends.
“Your feet need to be conditioned for such a long hike, it is more important than the fitness,” Botha said.
The hike will take 10 days from 31 March to 9 April, during which Botha will undergo extreme heat and cold while walking and sleeping along the road. She is motivated to complete the hike and said it would give her time to clear her head and think about life.
Founder of the Queen Butterfly Foundation, Palesa Mofokeng said she felt they were only one step away from finding a solution to their premises issues with the help of the community.
Organisations have already supported Botha in her awareness and fundraiser campaign and include the Lions Club Helderkruin, which has donated money and challenged other clubs to match, if not beat, its contribution.
The Queen Butterfly Foundation is a non-profit organisation which provides stimulatory programmes for children who suffer from severe mental and physical disabilities.
Details: To follow Botha’s journey, link up with her Facebook page, Hiking the Tankwa Camino for children with disabilities.
To donate or sponsor Botha per kilometre, contact Mofokeng on 072 871 2559 or palesa.queenbutterfly@gmail.com
