A number of South African and international fresh produce companies have joined an initiative to raise funds for people affected by cancer in the Cape region of South Africa.
Supported by the Cancer Association of South Africa, the project, entitled 'Fredo Touring for CANSA', will undertake an extensive tour of Namibia.
Funds contributed by the fruit companies participating in the project are paid directly into the CANSA account, which will be used to provide direct support for people in the Cape region who are affected by cancer and need support.
Fredo Touring is coordinated by well-known fresh produce personalities, Fred and Jane Meintjes. The initiative involves a journey of around 7,000kms in 37 days in a Ford Ranger and a Tourer SP caravan.
The local and international fresh produce companies supporting the 2015 campaign have all responded to personal challenges from the Meintjes. They are each contributing R10,000 to the CANSA fund in return for the pair spending between 35 and 40 days on the road.
Eight companies are contributing to the initiative. Six of these are core sponsors and two are tour supporters who will provide logistics support for the venture. The South African companies are the Capespan Foundation, part of the well-known Capespan Group, Zest Fruit, a well-known citrus exporter based in Stellenbosch and the Karsten Group, leading producers of table grapes in the Orange River, as well as deciduous fruit in the Western Cape.
In addition to this British importer, Poupart Imports, based in the Greater London area of the UK, Capespan Continent, the Capespan Group’s international marketing company based in Antwerp in Belgium, have also joined the core group of sponsors. The third international sponsor is well-known Marine Cargo Insurance specialists SA/VE based in Hamburg, Germany.
The tour logistics supporters are leading South African logistics company, Go Reefers, and fresh produce marketing and distribution specialists RSA Mark Agents. Go Reefers not only supplies logistics export services to the South African fresh produce industry, but also to the Namibian grape export industry based mainly in Southern Namibia. RSA Mark Agents are the country’s leading produce market agents with strong and powerful relations with most fruit and vegetable producers in the country.
This is the second year of Fredo Touring for CANSA, with last year's initiative raised R32,000 for people affected by cancer.
“We are delighted with this year’s response,” said Fred Meintjes. “We picked Namibia because it is an inspiring destination and it has always been our intension to, while raising funds for people affected by cancer, also highlight the importance of looking after our natural world and particularly our animal kingdom.
Capespan Continent’s managing director, Gerald Müller, described Fredo Touring as a wonderful opportunity to support people affected by cancer in the Cape region.
“We have very strong relationships with the fruit growing community in South Africa and are pleased that we can help make a difference,” said Müller.
Zest Fruit’s Freek Dreyer, who also supported Fredo Touring for CANSA in 2014, explained that companies joining together in this way meant that they could make a meaningful contribution to the lives of people affected by the disease, while Delena Engelbrecht of Go Reefers, said her company had a long tradition of not only doing business in Namibia and South Africa, but also supporting social programmes in both countries.
“I am sure we will be up to help solve any logistics problems that Fredo Touring for CANSA may encounter on this venture,' she said. 'We are pleased to be involved.”
Jaco Oosthuizen, RSA’s Mark Agent's CEO, added that his company believed in contributing to initiatives which made a meaningful difference to the lives of people who need it most: “Cancer affects so many people in our country and by working together with others on Fredo Touring we can all contribute in a meaningful way.”
Apart from major sponsors making a contribution, CANSA has also set up an online facility where any person who wishes to make a donation can do so.
“In addition to raising the R60,000 from our sponsors, we have also set a target of R50,000.00 for the online facility,' continued Fred Meintjes. 'If everyone travelling this winter to Namibia or other national parks in South Africa makes a small online donation, we will easily get there.'
Fredo Touring for CANSA’s Namibian venture will start on 21 July, and will return to Cape Town towards the end of August.
“Visit www.fredo.co.za to find the direct link to CANSA on the home page. This blog will also carry regular updates on our progress and when we return we will produce a book detailing our travels which will be printed by a friend and which will also be sold to raise funds for CANSA,” said Fred Meintjes.
