Hiking for a Queen Butterfly
“People like Rozette help us thrive and it is such an honour for us to be helping the vulnerable children. "
Rozette Botha will be using her love of nature and the outdoors to raise funds for the Queen Butterfly Foundation. The 48-year-old will be hiking the 256,6 km Tankwa Camino Trail so that the foundation can have a roof over its head to call its own.
Queen Butterfly is close to Rozette’s heart as her son Ruan was born with carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome, a metabolic disorder causing mental and physical disabilities and complications.
“My son passed away at the age of five months and 21 days. Had he lived, he would have turned 22 on 20 August this year. I have always worried that Ruan would be forgotten and it is for this reason that I have decided to shine a light on Queen Butterfly Foundation by tackling an epic hike, raising much-needed funding for this organisation and dedicating the journey to the memory of Ruan,” she said.
The Tankwa Camino is a modern-day “Great Trek” which will take participants through one of the most beautiful areas of South Africa, the Tankwa Karoo. Starting on 31 March until 9th April, Rozette along with one of her siblings will be challenging the hiking trail for 10 days.
Rozette is no stranger to hiking, having completed the 90km Fish River Canyon trail – which is in the second largest canyon in the world, the 10 km Magoebaskloof Hiking Trail near Tzaneen, Riemvasmaak, Klipspringer-Augrabies, Wag ‘n Bietjie, Ezemvelo and Eagle Cove. For Rozette, the hikes are not only about the challenges but capturing the world through her lens as a part-time photographer. She also uses her time out in nature to clear her mind, be in touch with the rhythms of the Earth, which she find healing, recharge her energy and be closer to God.
“Queen Butterfly Foundation is close to my heart because it serves children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities. Had Ruan lived, he would have been one of the children attending school at Queen Butterfly. As a non-profit organisation with few resources, they rely on fundraising to cover most overheads such as rent and staff salaries.
“All monies raised from my hike will go directly to the organisation and help them secure property to get their operation to the next level and serve even more children like Ruan,” she said.
Queen Butterfly’s principal Palesa Mofokeng was touched by Rozette’s efforts and being chosen as the beneficiary of her cause.
“People like Rozette help us thrive and it is such an honour for us to be helping the vulnerable children. We rely on fundraising efforts to be able to provide care for the children and as the hike draws closer, I want to help her as much as possible with anything I can,” she said.
To donate and help a good cause, contact Rozetta on 082 075 1937 or Palesa on 081 795 7531. Visit the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/QueenButterflyHike/
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