Teaching staff at the Springs Campus of the Ekuhuleni College, wrapped trees with pink material on Friday in aid of Pink Trees for Pauline.
“This is a national project and Friday was the celebration of the Pink Trees for Pauline initiative, where people from all walks of life celebrated the message of hope, conquering cancer and life,” says Ina Visser, lecturer at the college.
The Pink Trees for Pauline’s managing director Adri van Nieuwenhuizen is the founder of the project.
Ina adds she was quite impressed with what Adri was doing on a national level, and members of the Dameskring Protea in Benoni initiated the project in Benoni and invited schools to participate.
“Adri says the hope that the physical action of wrapping a tree brings to people is heart-rending and therefore it is necessary to implement this project in local schools and in the community,” says Ina.
She adds beyond the closure that comes after the sadness, there is hope that the funds raised by purchasing the pink material will help those in the cancer communities.
With this initiative exactly that was done – people from all over South Africa spread the word about this unique fundraising initiative.
Quite a few towns started wrapping their trees in the distinctive pink material and more than 170 000 trees across the country are currently donning pink apparel.
“A R20 donation buys one meter of material and R12 goes for cancer patients. A small price to add to cancer awareness what effect it has on the patient as well as their families,” adds Ina.
Adri adds if these kilometres of pink material were telegraphs sent to cancer communities, the message most certainly would have read love, care, acceptance, calm and hope.
Its mission is to create a pro-active initiative that will produce long term effects which will linger forever in the hearts and minds of everyone involved.
Every story of hope that is told is confirmation that Pink Trees for Pauline is walking in this mission, small steps day by day.
The 2013 theme for the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign for this month and beyond is ‘Lets defeat breast cancer, we are stronger together’.
“This is a call to action that will serve to shift public focus from awareness to increased action, advancing us further towards eradicating breast cancer from our lives,” says Adri.
The testimonies from cancer communities confirm that action is taken; people are caring and reaching out to one another. Roads throughout South Africa lined with trees wrapped in pink are clear evidence of this.
According to Catherine Lister from Hospice East Rand between May and August 46 000 people died of cancer.
“We believe that everyone deserves a second chance and must be treated with respect and dignity while on their life’s journey,” says Adri.
“Together we can make a difference,” concludes Ina.
Schools or anyone interested in this project can contact Ina on 083 559 2183.
For more information regarding Pink Trees for Pauline, contact Adri on 082 460 6386. e-mail adri@pt4pauline.co.za.
