A whopping R612 000 was raised for Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services, a non-profit organization in Alberton providing palliative care and support for patients and their families having to face life limiting illnesses such as cancer.

Every year, the Momentum 947 Cycle Challenge gives participants the opportunity to create awareness about causes that are close to their hearts. Last year Stepping Stone Hospice, with the support of Absa as the main sponsor, entered a team of 44 cyclists and raised R380 000 at the time, ending in 5th position in the Top 10 Charity Group.

“I am absolutely speechless,” says CEO of Stepping Stone Hospice, Tersia Burger. “Not only did Absa come on board as our main sponsor again, but we have doubled our riders and almost doubled the funds raised!” Off the 85 cyclists, 29 were Absa employees inspired by the fact that Barclays undertook to match fund all funds raised by the Absa cyclists on the team.

Judy Joubert, volunteer at Stepping Stone Hospice and herself an employee at Absa, co-ordinated this fundraising project and worked relentlessly to ensure Stepping Stone Hospice will reap the benefits. “We salute Judy, the cyclists and all the sponsors. Because of this incredible effort, we can now proceed with the establishment of a training centre for Stepping Stone Hospice, with the emphasis on training for the care of children facing the trauma of life-limiting illnesses,” says Tersia. “There is a huge need for a facility such as ours to extend its services to children facing life-limiting illnesses,” says Tersia. “With the funds raised, we can now start this process.”

Stepping Stone Hospice is an independent community driven organization and the first ever service of its kind in the Greater Alberton area of Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg South. It’s In-Patient Unit in New Market Park has eight wards of which two cater for long term patients. A further 100 patients are being cared for in their homes by home based care nurses and caregivers.

The fact that Stepping Stone Hospice cares for more than 100 patients in the community, has an 8 bed in-patient-unit, employs 58 care workers, 4 auxiliary nurses, 4 professional nurses and a further 13 permanent staff members with a salary bill in excess of R300 000 a month, indicates the demand for hospice services in our community and the need for Stepping Stone Hospice to continuously embark on fundraising activities.

Caption:
Richard Dunn and David Wingfield riding for Stepping Stone Hospice in the 947 Momentum Cycle Challenge.

{module Contact Us Now}