A Collaborated Effort Produces Great Results
On Friday, 4 January 2013, San Diego based organization Do-Something-Now handed over 25 bicycles to St. John home-based caregivers. Do-Something-Now wanted to assist a South African establishment that supported patients with cancer or HIV Aids, and visiting board members Michael and Carol Horvitz attended the handover at St. John.
Do-Something-Now approached Anthony Fitzhenry of Qhubeka to purchase bicycles locally. Qhubeka is a sponsoring partner of the Wildlands Conservation Trust Tree-preneur Project, which has been introduced into communities in the Cape with the help of Spier and PSG Konsult Corporate. The aim of the programme is to support rural and township communities through tree and vegetable growing projects.
Lesley Joemat, Project Manager for the Tree-preneur Project, nominated St. John as the beneficiary of this donation as they provide home-based care aligned with Do-Something-Now’s objectives in the Communities where the Tree-preneur Project is active. The 150 St. John caregivers work 4.5 hours per day, most of which is spent walking between over 1500 homes of patients within their own community.
St. John Community Projects Manager, Glenville Leedenberg, was delighted and thanked everyone that collaborated in this donation. He said that the bicycles would provide sufficient transport to reach patients and allow for more time at the patients’ homes.