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Two Albertonians, 39-year old AW Claassens and his step-dad, 62-year old Willie Duvenhage, attempted the AUDAX 200km cycle ride on Sunday, 23 June, 2019 in an effort to raise funds for Stepping Stone Hospice. We asked AW to relay in his own words what it was like to attempt a 200km ride on windy winters day – after reading his recollection of the race…. all we can say is, THANK YOU and we have so much respect for what you did. You finished and you are our heroes!

Sat 22/06/2019 – day before race

Had to make sure all spares were up to date… Had a last look at the weather forecast, realised that we were going to have a very cold start and that I will need a new pair of gloves. Also decided to add some plastic bags over the toes in my shoes to try and keep them warm. Made sure all bottles were filled with all the necessary drinks and shakes, froze some so that it will be cold when I have to swap them out. Made sure the headlight was charged as I wasn’t sure if we will be back before sunset. Went to bed early (8pm) but the nerves started to kick in. Some of the questions that keep going through my head… Am I fit enough? Do I have enough warm clothes? Am I going to finish? Will the bicycle break? I set the alarm for 4am so that we can be at the Circus Cafe at 6am, an hour before starting time.

A “Christmas in July” Day market is just the thing to chase the winter blues away and pick up some bargains that can certainly serve as great gifts come Christmas time.

Stepping Stone Hospice in conjunction with Amcare, will host their first ever “Christmas in July” Day Market on Saturday July 6 at the Alberton Methodist Church in New Market Park, opening at 08:00 and closing at 17:00.

Some exclusive items will be on sale such as new promotional gift boxes and brand-new, brand-name clothing items. Ranging from selfie-sticks, picnic baskets, leather notebooks, coffee perculator sets, carry bags, toolkits, books and much much more.

In 2014, former President Nelson Mandela’s assistant, Zelda la Grange challenged philanthropist Carolyn Steyn to knit 67 blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, and not one

A recent article on Stepping Stone Hospice patient, Daleen Dyer (36) from Florentia, who was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease in April 2018, led to Alberton resident, Elmarie van den Berg arranging for the donation of a special hospital bed to Daleen.

“My ex-husband, Piet Vorster suffered from the same disease and passed away at the age of 66 in January 2018. When I saw the article on Daleen, I immediately reached out to our sons who all agreed that we can donate the bed used for Piet when he became bed-ridden. This bed and mattress made a huge difference in Piet’s life in terms of being comfortable and in the prevention of bed sores,” explains Elmarie.

Motor Neuron Disease is a disease that leads to a progressive weakening of all the muscles in the body, which eventually affects the ability to breathe. There is no cure.

Any child’s dream – to be let loose around a table stacked with cakes ready to be iced and decorated!

Pick ‘n Pay in Lemon Tree Mall, New Market, has launched their Kiddies Cake Carnival, set to take place on Saturday 15 June 2019 from 09:00 till 14:00 at the Pick ‘n Pay court in the Lemon Tree Shopping Centre.

All children between the ages of 5 and 12 are invited to participate in the different age group categories at R30 per entry. Not only do they stand to win some awesome prizes, but also get to take their decorated cake home!

“This is our time to say thank you to the community and give back – in this instance to an organization who has touched so many lives and who needs our support,” says Jason Luscos, Pick ‘n Pay store manager.

“They helped us, I will help them,” says bereaved mother“

A true testament of a mother’s love is currently unfolding in the Stepping Stone Hospice In-Patient Unit, a reality so harsh, yet at the same time, so heartbreakingly beautiful. A mother who refuses to leave her dying daughter’s side, who sleeps in a chair next to her bed, and only leaves her daughters room when she goes outside to smoke, “and to cry, because I will not cry in front of my daughter.” Hazel van Rooyen showers in the unit, she eats in the unit, and she oversees the daily visits of her grandchildren when they come to see their mother.

With Hazel’s permission, we are sharing the story of her 35-year old daughter, Angie van Wyk, who in January this year was diagnosed with Stage 4 pelvic cancer. Herself a young mother, Angie will leave behind her 10-year old daughter, JC Leigh and 7-year old son, Recce. Yes, they know their mother is dying, and this will be the second time in their young lives that they will be facing the loss of a parent. Their father died in a car accident in October 2014.

Stephen Hawking was one of the most well-known people in the world with a Motor Neuron Disease. Joost van der Westhuizen, one of South Africa’s greatest rugby players, succumbed to the disease in 2017. But when it’s your wife, your sister, your daughter who is diagnosed with MND, it’s then that the monster hits you in the stomach. When the devastating effects of the disease are no longer something you read about or that happen to someone else, when it’s something you have to live with every day, that’s when your tears don’t seem to be enough, and when your knees become raw from praying and asking and seeking.

Stepping Stone Hospice patient, Daleen Dyer (36) from Florentia, was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease in April 2018, a disease that leads to a progressive weakening of all the muscles in the body, which eventually affects the ability to breathe. There is no cure. Could this have been the worst news this young woman could ever receive?

Yip, it’s that time of year when we start planning and looking forward to our Annual Golf Day, scheduled for Thursday 11 April 2019. And of course inviting you to participate and join in on the fun.

Looking back on our Golf Day held last year (18 April that was), we’ve certainly proved that we can put together a day to be remembered, on and off the golf course. Our 144 players, with the help of our sponsors, managed to raise the incredible amount of R220 000, of which R157 000 was actual profit! Not too shabby for a bunch of guys (and girls) hitting a little white ball around 18 fairways on a beautiful golf course.

So let’s do the same this year, and go BIGGER and BETTER!

“THIS baby girl will not die, not today and not with me near, she will live,” were the words of Chris Nel, retail supervisor of Stepping Stone Hospice’s The Charity Shop.

Stepping Stone Hospice’s ethos, “You are Not Alone,” have yet again been demonstrated by the quick action of the charity shop’s team when a mother gave birth on the pavement in front of the shop along Fore Street in New Redruth.

On January 31, at around 11am, Chris saw a woman in the middle of Fore Street climbing out of a truck and on her knees. The next moment he saw water and blood, and he knew something was wrong.

“I rushed over to the woman to help and when I got to her, her baby just seemed to drop out,” he said. Before he rushed to her, he called his colleagues in the store to help.

Cancer: What has changed?

As we celebrate World Cancer Day today (4 February), we take a look at the history of cancer, and what has changed over the years. The grip of this dreaded disease seems to have only intensified, and although a lot has been achieved over the years in terms of research, early diagnosis and treatment, two things have remained: There is no recorded cure for cancer and palliative (hospice) care is still very much a part of the cancer journey.