Every CANSA volunteer gives freely of his or her time. Ostensibly, their only reward is
knowing that they are making a difference in people’s lives.
But the Mariette Loots Cancer Trust quietly takes note, and each year gives awards to volunteers whose level of caring and commitment stands out.
The Friends For Life Achievement Award went to Janita Potgieter from the
Southern Cape. A trained and registered nurse, Janita helps with patient care which can include changing stoma bags, visiting patients undergoing treatment, wound cleaning, and registering patients with CANSA.
Janita also promotes awareness in her community and helps with major fundraising events.
The Mariette Loots Cancer Winner Award went to Joan Deare from Durban.
In her 80s, Joan is a retired social worker who previously worked for CANSA in the 1990s and came back as a volunteer in 2015.
From 2015 – 2020, Joan almost singlehandedly ran the CANSA TLC programme in Durban. This included visiting patients and families in hospitals, supporting patients and families staying at Durban’s TLC Lodge, liaising with oncologists, doing home visits, training and supervising TLC volunteers. Joan is always very aware of the necessity for donations. These can be financial, gifts in kind like food and toiletries for patients, and encouraging bequests to CANSA.
Merit awards were given to:
- Elise Fourie from Pretoria
- Freda Botha from Gqeberha
- Aneetha Moodley from Pietermaritzburg
- Marthia van Nooi from Boland/Ashton
- Cherese Botha from Polokwane
These award winners are now in the running for the next year’s two main awards. Our heartfelt thanks and congratulations go to all the winners.
