Entering a new season of life and work, it seemed only right that Frieda Henning’s motorbike also underwent a metamorphosis in the last year.
As co-founder and later MD, Frieda retired from the organisation Journey of Hope in March after much soul searching in the wake of a serious motorbike accident last year.
"I believe a miracle took place in my body," she says, leaving her a double survivor (from breast cancer and this accident) and even more determined to spend time doing the things she loves. And one such passion is making a difference in her new role as special projects co-ordinator for People Living With Cancer (PLWC).
This non-profit organisation, established in 2002, aims to provide a support structure for cancer survivors and their families across South Africa. They want greater collaboration between NGOs, especially those involved in cancer prevention, edu-cation and assistance.
Frieda is excited about the "cancer buddy groups" which carefully matches and individually pairs a person touched by cancer with someone who has fought and survived the same type of cancer, according to Carl Liebenberg and Linda Greeff, founders of PLWC. The hope is that buddy support will be available in every town in South Africa in the near future.
Frieda’s focus is on "Cancervive Cancer Ride", a project that will bring awareness to "shy" cancers such as testicular, ovarian and cervical cancer, with cancer survivors riding their motorbikes from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
Five of these survivors come from George, which bodes well for the support cancer battlers will get in George.
In the meantime, Frieda is enjoying time spent with her husband, Ernst, children Anel and Chris, and grandchildren Zane, Kaelin, Keithon and Yani. She laughingly tells the story of Zane coming home from school complaining that his friends did not believe him that his ouma rode a motorbike.
Needless to say, the following day he could happily say, "I told you so" when not only Frieda, but Ernst also arrived to do the school run. So if anyone wondered whether she is hanging up her helmet anytime soon, rest assured: "I’ll never stop riding... it’s part of my therapy!" Frieda exclaims.
Firmly on the next leg of her survivor journey, some things have not changed. Frieda is still determined to enjoy and "celebrate life", enjoying sushi as a treat, drinking "God se koeldrank" (which is what her mom called water), and reminding people that whatever life throws at them, "we all have choices, so choose to never give up and turn a negative into a positive!"
For more information about PLWC, "Cancervive" and the cancer buddy groups, visit www.plwc.org.za or e-mail Frieda on frieda@mweb.co.za.
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Like its owner, Frieda’s beautiful Softail Heritage Classic Harley Davidson underwent a metamorphosis recently.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: LEEANNE PRATT
