Ria bids farewell to city
Ria du Plessis, a familiar face at Cansa Limpopo and the Polokwane Athletic Club bids farewell to Polokwane as she is relocating to Pretoria.
POLOKWANE – Ria du Plessis, a familiar face at Cansa Limpopo and the Polokwane Athletic Club bids farewell to Polokwane as she is relocating to Pretoria.
Ria is well-known throughout Polokwane, and has been a community mobiliser for Cansa Limpopo for the past two years, spending most of her days driving patients to their chemotherapy sessions and making sure the charity had enough funding.
As someone who is a cancer survivor herself, Ria understands how taxing and intimidating chemotherapy can be. “The best thing for me is to know that I can make a small difference in someone’s life,” says Ria, who will start her new job at Cansa in Pretoria this week. “I will do exactly the same that I did here, only for the people of Pretoria,” she explains.
Some of Ria’s best memories with Cansa Limpopo include the Jail n Bail fundraiser and the annual Relay For Life.
“Seeing people open their hearts and hands for a good cause is so inspiring,” she says.
Ria was often seen at Polokwane Athletic Club’s races and is always there to help. She has also been the club’s public relations officer and media liaison.
“Ria has been a member of the club for the past 12 years and was always available to organise social functions and the Comrades Marathon support group. We will miss her friendly smile and encouragement at club races and functions and on Wednesday evenings at the clubhouse,” says the club’s chairperson, Johan Janse van Vuuren.
Ria says the fellowship and the annual Comrades support group have been the highlights of her time with the Polokwane Athletic Club.
She adds that she will still be there to support the club’s athletes at the Comrades Marathon next year.
Last year was the 10th consecutive year that Ria and her friend, Hettie Bouwer went to the Comrades as supporters.
She was also at the Savannah Mall 3-in-1 race on Saturday to support the athletes and to make sure their Facebook page was updated.
Ria will still help out at Cansa Limpopo, and those who need support or counselling or want to help raise money for Cansa can contact her at rduplessis@cansa.co.za or 083 259 2790.
