New volunteers join Sunflower Project, but more are needed

GEORGE NEWS - The Sunflower Support Project has gained a good number of new volunteers in response to a call from Rev Francois Mulder and his wife, Karina, to members of his congregation at the Blanco Dutch Reformed Church, and a plea by Rita Marx, leader volunteer of the group, published in George Herald.

The volunteers of the Sunflower group support cancer patients who visit the George Regional Hospital for consultation and treatment.

Many of these patients travel many hours on the road to reach the hospital and spend several more hours waiting for their treatment.

The volunteers serve sandwiches, tea and coffee and provide emotional support. When required, patients are referred to the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) for further follow-up and support.

Volunteers would need to give of their time only one morning per month (from 09:00 to 12:00) on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, and/or supply sandwiches once a month.

The project, managed by Cansa, came to a halt during the Covid pandemic when volunteers could no longer visit the hospital, but it was recently started up again.

For more information, contact Rita Marx on 083 564 7341, Rene Scott at Cansa on 044 874 4824 or Jackie Biljon on 072 124 7368.

The ladies who have signed up to help with the Sunflower Project under the leadership of Rita Marx (seated third from right). Rev Francois Mulder is at the back with his wife, Karina, on his right.