DURBAN North cancer survivor has once again completed a 15-day walking challenge, the Walk of Life, all in the name of raising funds for Chatsworth Hospice.
Bala Gangiah, together with over 100 supporters this year, to date, have raised over R250 000.
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This year, Gangiah and his supporters walked 15km for 15 days along the Durban Promenade which ended on July 22.
Former Durbanites, who are now living abroad, also joined him by joining the Walk of Life from India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Others in the country also joined from Cape Town and Johannesburg.
“We started at 06:00. Last year, we did a 21km over 21 days, so we found the 15km a lot easier. Our main challenges were the two cold fronts during the walk, but we persevered as we had a goal to complete,” said Gangiah.
He said the highlight of the fundraiser was having, for the first time, such awesome support from ex-Durbanites.
“This support from abroad really makes us want to do more and keep the Walk of Life going,” he said.
Gangiah was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 after doctors found tumours in both his kidneys. One of them was malignant, and his kidney had to be removed.
He climbed Kilimanjaro after surgery and walked 575km in India, also raising funds for Chatsworth Hospice in 2019. He called the initiative the Walk of Life, and the name has stuck.
This is the third Walk of Life fundraiser for Chatsworth Hospice.
“One of the most honourable services we can do as able beings is to help those with a terminal illness to spend their final days free of pain and in dignity. Our motto is that no distance is too long if it’s for the right cause,” he said.
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