Four Nellmapius men are about 500km from Cape Town after walking to raise awareness about cancer and assist a friend whose two-year-old son has retinoblastoma.

Ricardo Springbok (42), Machenic Mokoena (41), Joy Mosehla (26) and Lesego Sibanyoni (37) of the Rom Springbok Foundation, have walked for 28 days and covered 1 140km, sleeping under bridges, in manholes, at police stations and at petrol stations.

They reached Beaufort West in the Western Cape and have amazing stories to tell about their journey, both the good and the bad times.

Springbok said their journey is about raising awareness of all kinds of cancer, noting that on October 19 they stopped at Lowryville Clinic in Colesberg, in the Northern Cape, before continuing to the Western Cape.

Springbok said that along the way, they met two men from Musina walking toward Cape Town, who raised awareness about indigenous games.

”We walked with them for a day and the following day we separated in Hanover, a small town in the Northern Cape,” said Springbok.

The group also met with Herbert Botes, better known as ‘Karooseun’, of Beaufort West Cycling for Hope, who was helpful.

Springbok said he was very supportive and donated four pairs of sneakers, food and a sleeping bag.

Ubuntu local municipality councillor Vuyo Yekani offered them a place to sleep at his home in Richmond, bought them dinner, provided laundry facilities and paid for their haircuts, according to Mokoena.

Mokoena said Yekani also took them to the local hospital in Richmond for health screenings before they continued their journey.

Community rallies behind cause

Other challenges they faced included one member, Sibanyoni, struggling with sore legs.

Springbok said the walk was inspired by their friend Alex Phiri (38), whose two-year-old son, Thabang Motau, was diagnosed with eye cancer. Springbok highlighted the importance of focusing on prostate cancer, noting that black men face a significantly higher risk of developing and dying from the disease compared to other racial or ethnic groups.

He said the foundation’s walk aims to raise awareness and educate people about different types of cancer.

Although they left unprepared, especially regarding equipment, Nellmapius community members and their families donated funds to help them start the journey.

“We also want to deliver a message to Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi to provide workshops for prostate cancer within our communities to encourage men to get tested, and to provide mobile clinics for men, especially in rural areas,” said Sibanyoni.

Phiri expressed his deep gratitude, stating that his friends showed true love and care after learning about his son’s condition.

He recalled that his wife noticed something wrong with the child’s eye on the day he was born, but nurses assured her it was nothing serious and would heal as the child grew.

“The child was fine all along until two months ago when his eye got worse, and doctors confirmed it is eye cancer and needed immediate treatment,” Phiri said.

“I will never forget what my friends are doing for my child, risking their lives and sleeping on the road to raise funds for my child.”

Phiri noted that Springbok and Mokoena previously served time in prison after making poor decisions, but have since turned their lives around to save others by raising awareness.

He wished them a safe journey and return

Springbok emphasised that they will not give up and will continue to support each other all the way to Cape Town.

“We are walking to increase education, promote early detection and support those affected by the disease,” Springbok said. “We are taking it one step at a time until we reach our goal.”

The group wears bright orange awareness vests and carries a South African flag.

Passers-by who see the team on the road are encouraged to wave, offer words of encouragement or provide water, food or other safe support.

The group concluded by saying their motto is ‘Hope in every step’ and while they originally aimed to reach their destination by the end of October, their new goal is to reach it in 20 days.

Anyone wishing to donate funds for Motau or the group can contact the foundation directly on 066 379 4357.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok or WhatsApp Channel