After undertaking a pilgrimage covering a distance of over 270km the chief executive of the Tygerberg Hospital Children’s Trust is back home. This week she shared some of her experience of the walk across Portugal and Spain with TygerBurger.
Louise Theron, chief executive, said the walk was done to raise funds for the hospital and the children that the facility cares for.
Theron was accompanied by Leone Malan, a lifelong friend. The duo walked from Porto in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain over 14 days. Their mission – to raise critical funds for life-saving paediatric equipment for the children of Tygerberg Hospital, one of South Africa’s busiest public hospitals, she said.
In May this year the TygerBurger also reported on the two before they embarked on their journey. Theron and Malan left South Africa for Europe on 19 May. They started the Camino on 22 May and arrived in Santiago de Compostela on 5 June. The two friends arrived back in South Africa on 12 June.
Pilgrimage
With each step, they carried not only their backpacks but also the hopes of countless children and families who rely on Tygerberg Hospital for care and healing.
The pilgrimage, historically walked for spiritual reflection, became a symbol of a very real and urgent modern-day cause – supporting the lives of vulnerable children in need of specialised medical care, said Theron.
“This journey pushed us physically and emotionally, but every kilometre was driven by the knowledge that our efforts could help save a child’s life.
“We walked for the babies and children, for the parents waiting by ICU bedsides, and for the doctors and nurses who perform miracles every day at Tygerberg Hospital,” she said.
Support Camino
The trust is now calling on the public, corporates, and friends of Tygerberg Hospital to support this Camino for Kids campaign by donating towards the purchase of critical paediatric medical equipment that are urgently needed in neonatal and paediatric wards.
Malan also shared her views.
“Completing the Camino was a personal milestone, but the real impact lies in what we can achieve together.”
Tygerberg Hospital Children’s Trust is a non-profit and public benefit organisation and all donations qualify for Section 18A certificates for tax relief to donors.
All funds raised will be used transparently to procure equipment that will save lives and improve health outcomes for thousands of children at Tygerberg Hospital, said Theron.
To contribute to this life-saving initiative visit www.tygerbergchildren.org.za.
You must be logged in to post a comment.