- Seven-day JMC charity drive completes days two and three.
- 11 care packages left for a hospital.
- Team meets 14-year-old cancer survivor Nita.
- Cape Town reached just after 9pm.
- 20 care packages delivered at Tygerberg.
Day two of the JMC Seven7 Drive took the team out of Polokwane and onto another long stretch of road, with Kimberley set as the overnight stop. Along the way, 11 care packages were left for a hospital. The drive aims to show children and families affected by cancer across South Africa that they are not forgotten.
Meeting Nita and her mother Suné
Somewhere on that stretch, the team met 14-year-old Nita and her mother, Suné. Her story had already reached them before the meeting. It made headlines and featured in newspapers and Huisgenoot after she was diagnosed with uterine cancer at just 11 years old.
Treatment eventually included a hysterectomy. Today, at 14, her story has a happy ending. Suné was at her side, as she had been throughout, and the team said the meeting gave them a different perspective on the stories heard during the drive, staying with them long after they got back into the vehicles.
Rain and diversions on day three
The third day started at 5am in Kimberley, with Cape Town still far off and rain making the going harder. Closed routes and diversions pushed the convoy onto less travelled roads. There was plenty of mud, a few moments of uncertainty and, by the team’s account, plenty of laughter too.
After hours behind the wheel, they rolled into Cape Town just after 9pm.
Seven7 Drive stop at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital
One important visit remained. At Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, the team delivered 20 care packages to children receiving cancer treatment. It was the first hospital on the journey that brought home the difference between private and public healthcare, and what many families face when a child needs long-term medical care.
A little tiger mascot appears throughout the ward as a small symbol of strength and something familiar for the young patients. The team also met doctors, nurses and medical staff who spend their days caring for these children, often quietly and behind hospital doors.
With more children still to reach, the convoy returns to the road as the seven-day drive continues towards its remaining stops.
Supplied by QuickPic (JMC)
This story is based on aggregated news, press release(s) or other sources and was prepared with the help of AI tools, which can make mistakes. Prices, specifications, general information and availability may change, so confirm the details with the manufacturer, other news sources or a dealer.