FOR THE LOVE OF CHILDREN
Kia partnered the Seven7 Drive team on a sojourn to spread awareness of childhood cancer, writes
Automotive event invitations come throughout the year. And when it involves doing good and spreading love and kindness for a worthy cause, we pay special attention. Kia, in partnership with the Seven7 Drive team, invited us to take part in this year’s leg of the event, and I was up for the task. The initiative was founded by fellow motoring journalist Danie Botha, with the aim of spreading awareness of the effects of childhood cancer, as he himself lost a loved one to the disease.
The road trip is over seven days. Previously participants would drive across seven African countries in seven days, visiting hospitals that have children with cancer, in a bid to put a smile on the little ones’ faces, even if only for a while. Each child would get a gift and a cupcake.
Travelling across our continent comes with its own challenges, many at the borders, so to make things easier this year’s Seven7 trip was confined to within our national borders, but the blueprint remained the same.
The idea was to travel across the country within seven days. Our chosen vehicle for this special assignment was the commodious Kia Grand Sedona, loaded with our luggage, supplies and gear to see us through the trip. It helped that it is a seven-seater because we had room to spare. The team set off on the first leg from Tshwane, driving for two days to Cape Town, where I met them and began my leg of the 5,000km journey.
Childhood cancer does not get the attention it deserves. I was privileged to meet some of these young warriors who battle for their lives daily. Nothing could have prepared
me for the pain and sadness I found at our first hospital stop in Port Elizabeth. Only then did I begin to understand the full impact of cancer.
We made many more stops at hospitals in the various provinces, from Port Elizabeth to Bethlehem, and then to Newcastle. We departed KZN early. By then we were all accustomed to the routine of setting off at the crack of dawn to drive to the next city — Nelspruit was our destination.
On arrival we were welcomed with open arms and big hearts by the owners of Kia Lydenburg, who invited us to join them for a family lunch. They were celebrating Eid Mubarak and insisted on hosting us for a celebratory meal at their home not far from the dealership. Their hospitality was so warm it left a lasting mark and imparted a lesson: no matter our differences we’re all human and love is the answer.
Finally we set off for our final destination, Tshwane, where it all began. At Steve Biko Hospital my ability to keep a hold on my emotions was tested. As I stepped into the first room with kids, I was met with a wide smile by a child near the entrance. He couldn’t have been older than 11. After greeting him I asked him how he was, to which he responded with a thumbs up, all the while holding his affectionate smile.
At this point I realised that he wasn’t able to speak. I offered him two toys, and without skipping a beat he enthusiastically pointed at the one he wanted. The joy and gratitude in his eyes tugged at the inner part of my heartstrings. I later found out that he had always wanted that specific toy, and it was finally his. Before leaving I peered into his room again to wave goodbye and seeing his young face with that sincere smile still on his face brought tears to my eyes.