It wasn’t just the virgilia trees (keurbome) in the Harold Porter Botanical Garden (HPBG) that were decked out in pale rose on Wednesday 30 October. Most of the 82 participants in the CANSA Breast Cancer Awareness Walk donned pink T-shirts to show their solidarity.
October is designated as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” in South Africa, reflecting a nationwide drive by public and private health-care to raise awareness of this debilitating disease.
The theme for 2024’s awareness drive was “No One Should Face This Battle Alone,” emphasising the importance of community, support and education in the fight against breast cancer. The walk used the full 5 km route of the weekly parkrun, complete with signposts, but participants had three hours to complete the walk, enjoying perfect Spring weather.
This annual walk has been organised by HPBG for years and serves as a reminder of Leonard Jacobs, an employee who died from cancer in 2017. A plaque was placed for him on a tree near the finish line. Jacobs was well known among visitors, especially those who frequented the nursery where he worked, according to Delicia Appel, events administrator for the HPBG.
Various institutions were represented, including the Women Action Group of Hermanus, the home care nurses of Mthimkhulu NPO, and the Kleinmond police. Appel also expressed special thanks to Wendy Lucas and the Betty’s Bay parkrun community for clearly marking and explaining the route.
The Harold Porter Botanical Garden, a key part of the Kogelberg Biosphere, is renowned for its Cape fynbos. This landmark in Betty’s Bay covers almost 200 hectares, stretching from the mountains to the coast. It offers walking paths through cliffs, gorges, moorland, forest, streams and mountain pools. In addition to the fynbos, 60 bird species have been recorded, along with klipspringers, porcupines, muskets, badgers, baboons and snakes.– Solid Stuff Media Agency/Fanie Krige