Callie de Lange is a 24-year-old man who was diagnosed with melanoma, or skin cancer when he was 19 years old.
Callie’s last wish is simply to catch a fish one last time.
Carika Pretorius, founder and director of Under His Covering, organised a day in Brentwood Park for Callie and his family to braai.
It was also an opportunity for him to catch one last fish as a resident of the Brishona Lodge organised for them to use the complex’s lapa and the lake to catch fish.
Under His Covering is a multifaceted Christian missionary non-profit organisation.
“I just want [Callie and his family] to have a day where they don’t need to worry or be sad and just have a good time,” said Pretorius.
She admitted that she received a lot of help from sponsors and good-hearted people who wanted to give.
Three friends, who share a love for fishing from Roodepoort, Francois Annandale, James Foxcroft and Neels Barnard saw Callie’s wish on Facebook and reached out to Pretorius.
They brought all of their fishing gear to help grant Callie’s wish.
“This is our passion, we love fishing and we just want to help him,” said Annandale.
Foxcroft said fishing is what they do and the story touched him.
“We can choose when we want to go fishing. For Callie, it is really an opportunity. We take so much for granted, so we must help him,” said Barnard.
Other people and businesses sponsored boerewors, bread rolls, platters, snacks and sweets.
One sponsor also gave the family a R4 000 voucher for groceries.
“Unfortunately, Callie did not catch a fish [on Sunday]. He had no energy and wasn’t feeling too great but another day is being organised for November 18 in Primrose,” said Pretorius.
Callie’s mother, Henriette de Lange, said although she and her husband were never rich, they had enough to provide for their family.
“After Callie was diagnosed with cancer our whole world as we knew it changed,” she said.
She is relying on donations to get by financially.
For more information on how to donate, Henriette can be reached on 071 264 7980.
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