GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - There's no denying it, the news has not been easy to digest recently. When you take a look at what's been going on in the world, it's easy to feel down.
To make matters even worse, a new Covid variant, Omicron, has quickly become the dominant variant in South Africa.
That is why it's important to take a moment to acknowledge all of the ordinary people with kindness in their hearts who go out and do good in the world.
Such people are the Good Samaritans of the Camdeboo Hospice and their counterparts of the Graaff-Reinet Cancer Association, who are daily making a difference in the lives of people who suffer from life-threatening illnesses.
Camdeboo Hospice is the only organisation in Graaff-Reinet that provides holistic palliative care to patients and their families affected by life-threatening illnesses through home-based care. This care is supplied by four caregivers, a staff nurse and one professional nurse.
Hospice care is designed to give supportive care to people in the final phase of a terminal illness. It focuses on comfort and quality of life, rather than cure and aims to enable patients to be comfortable and free of pain so that they can live each day as fully as possible.
They not only look after cancer patients, but also after people who suffer from motor neurone and similar diseases, tuberculosis- especially the drug-resistant variety - and HIV/Aids.
However, the Camdeboo Hospice itself is in dire financial difficulty.
Full-time fundraiser Marina van Niekerk told Graaff-Reinet Advertiser the organisation, that takes care of 94 patients, is on the brink of closing down.
"We are fast running out of money and requests to the Department of Health have so far fallen on deaf ears. We are desperate and are trying our utmost best to keep our doors open. But one can only do so much. Hope - and good faith - is all we've got left."
Van Niekerk says their monthly basic income is barely enough to cover the basic needs. "We have to host additional events to raise money for salaries, petrol, medical equipment, medicine and the like. Events like the recent biker breakfast run help to raise funds, but the money we normally collect is a mere drop in the ocean. Taking care of 94 patients comes at a price."
Marina says becoming a Friend of Hospice (FOH) is another option to raise money, but the success or not of this drive depends on the goodwill and kind-heartedness of residents.
"To become a FOH is a lot cheaper than a meal in a restaurant. For only R30 per month, anyone can become a FOH. Alternatively, an annual membership fee per individual will cost R360. This can of course be paid in monthly instalments of R30."
Van Niekerk says businesses can also become FOH at an annual fee of R500 or by making a monthly contribution.
"Anyone donating money will also get a Section 18A certificate, which is tax-deductible. Those donating must just remember to add the word 'FOH' when making an electronic payment."
Businesses or individuals who want to become a FOH can contact Van Niekerk on 084 461 6631.
By becoming an FOH - at a relatively small price - residents will make a huge difference in the lives of people struggling with life-threatening illnesses.
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