Young woman remembered: ‘live, laugh, love’ motto
HUNDREDS of people gathered yesterday to celebrate the life of Ariana Jansen by participating in the 6th annual walk in her memory along Sea Point promenade.
Inspired by the life of Jansen, who was a vibrant young woman, losing her battle with cancer at the age of 24, Ari’s Cancer Foundation was established in 2012 and is run by 12 voluntary members.
Jansen’s mother Zelda Jansen said her daughter’s motto in life was “live, laugh, love”.
“It was only after Ari died and we went through her diary to arrange the memorial service, that we found this phrase all over in her diary. Looking back, she really did embrace this philosophy wholeheartedly, and always reminds us that together we can make a difference,” said Jansen.
The foundation is affiliated to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, St Luke’s Hospice and Groote Schuur Hospital, and raises funds for Youth Booths and to provide support for families fighting cancer or living with cancer.
“Many of these families have no financial support, medical aid or medical insurance schemes to cover the high expense of cancer treatment,” Jansen said.
Ariana’s older sister Alonya van Rooyen, who lives with her husband Jean-Claude in San Francisco, said they would also be walking and letting off balloons yesterday.
Van Rooyen said every year they do something. “Last year we let the kids release balloons on top of a super high hill. We all hiked up. It was beautiful,” she said.
In September 2014, Ari’s Cancer Foundation pledged to help the Adolescent and Young Adults (AYA) with cancer in South Africa. AYAs are defined as those who are aged between 15 and 39 years old.
The Youth Booth is a comfortable workspace and recreational area for young adults to relax and be entertained while undergoing chemotherapy treatment in hospital.