Kuils River resident Greg Havenga (68) is no stranger to adventure.
Last year, he travelled to Nepal and trekked to Everest base camp.
Last week, he finished his third Tankwa Camino – a 10-day journey on foot along Route 355, the longest, uninterrupted gravel road in South Africa that runs between Calvinia and Ceres for 256 km.
It was his third time doing this trek, but this time it was for a purpose beyond himself, Havenga says.
Ahead of this journey through the harsh barrenness of the Tankwa Karoo, Havenga set a goal of raising R25 000 for Hannah’s Place of Safety in Mitchell’s Plain.
The foster home for babies run by Janine and Dion Fabe is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that is doing fantastic work, he says.
“These are abandoned babies, days or weeks old, most of them born to addicted mothers. Their first journey to follow is going through ‘rehab’. Janine and her dedicated team nurses them back to health.”
Renewed purpose
Havenga’s association with Hannah’s started soon after his Nepal visit from which he returned with a renewed purpose.
Havenga says it was not so much reaching Everest base camp at a height of 5 364 m above sea level that was life-changing but rather the culture of the people he encountered.
“All the sherpas and guides are Buddhist and their outlook on life is just to serve and love – you feel it everywhere you are, whether you agree with the Buddhism religion or not, it is what you feel as a culture.
“I asked myself some big questions – why all these wars and animosity that we feel and see? They simply just live.”
In November last year Havenga organised a fundraiser event held at DNA Café and managed to raise R40 000 for Hannah’s.
At the time he made a promise of doing another walk to raise more funds for Hannah’s. Hence his latest endeavour.
Havenga says the Tankwa Camino is a modern-day “Great Trek” that takes you through one of the most starkly beautiful areas of our country. The challenge lies in getting up every morning for 10 days to hike around 25 km per day. It is considered as much a spiritual pilgrimage as a test of physical endurance.
Physical challenges is something Havenga enjoys. In May he’s off to hike the Fish River Canyon in Namibia.
His body was fine when he returned home after the camino on Sunday 3 April, but his mind felt like he had jetlag for days after, he says.
Although he is “technically retired”, he still works as an independent consultant. “The word ‘retirement’ is not in my vocabulary.”
Donations for Hannah’s Place of Safety can still be made at allmysports-sa.com/product/gregs-walk-in-tankwa-for-hannahs-place
