6 days ago
Disabled woman takes on Cape Camino
PHALABORWA – Hannelie Jansen van Rensburg, a 61-year-old woman living with a disability, will embark on a deeply personal pilgrimage, the Cape Camino.
Hannelie and her husband, Johann, started their journey yesterday (Sunday, July 6) and aim to finish on Saturday, July 12. Hannelie will cover 10-15km a day, experiencing local hosts, beautiful scenery and diverse sacred spaces, in her own unique way.
She will be riding in her shoprider and her husband will be walking alongside her. Faizel Adams, the Peninsula chaperone, will accompany the couple over these six days, offering extra support and navigational guidance.
Hannelie was inspired to go on this journey after watching the Santiago Camino, where people participate in the journey for religious purposes.
'After watching, I wondered if something like this could be done in South Africa. I approached Peggy Coetzee-Andrew, one of the organisers of the Cape Camino, to see if they could organise a route which can accommodate a shoprider.'
Hannelie says this journey is more than an adventure; it is about challenging tourism to give access to people using wheelchairs and those who are differently-abled.
'Through the trip, I aim to raise awareness of the possibilities for accessible travel and to show that physical limitations need not stop anyone from pursuing their dreams. I'm excited that I will also be doing this trip with my husband of 39 years,' she said.
She is married to the headmaster of Frans du Toit High School, and the couple is blessed with one child.
They will begin their journey at the Schoenstatt Catholic Shrine in Constantia, from there, they will walk through lush greenbelts to Tokai, and then on to Muizenberg, passing the Islamic Kramats.
They will continue on to Kalk Bay, a vibrant fishing village known for its colourful atmosphere and coastal charm. Their next stop will be Simon's Town, a historic naval town, before they make their way to Scone Shack for their final night, situated near Cape Point, the southernmost tip of the Peninsula.
Hannelie encourages people living with disabilities to not limit themselves from achieving their goals, and she also encourages families of people who are physically challenged to not hide their family members indoors, but treat them as 'normal' people.
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