‘Nurses make a difference’
EMMARENTIA – The run saw people gather to raise funds for healthcare workers.
Exceptional Nurses Campaign held a run at Marks Park Sports Club to raise funds for healthcare workers.
The Night Run to Honour Healthcare Workers, which took place on October 9, was a 7km run that saw both community members and healthcare workers take part in the event.
The run’s theme was taken from the works of Florence Nightingale, who is cited as being the founder of modern nursing, and gained the nickname Lady with the Lamp. So the campaign hosted this 7km run in recognition of nurses working 07:00 to 19:00 shifts, and had runners dawn headlamps. Teresa Basson, director of the campaign, said the headlamps and neon apparel the runners had were meant to emulate life, health and blessings into the community.
With a purpose not just to draw large crowds and have loads of fun, the run’s biggest aim was to celebrate healthcare workers. Basson explained though the initiative works with the Department of Health, they get most of their funding from private funders, however, the department is behind them every step of the way.
Basson said their campaign is in effort to raise the status of the nursing profession as young people are not attracted to nursing, “They would rather be doctors, lawyers or occupational therapists, but what about being a nurse? Nurses make a difference, they are saving lives, so we are trying to change the narrative about the perception of nurses.”
The event was also co-hosted by Roosevelt Park Baptist Church. Reverend Wayne Hoedemaker said they helped with registration and remedial work needed for the campaign. From this event, he hopes people took away that our country needs the unity such events bring all while enjoying in fellowship together – even through running.
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