Cape Town - A police officer walked 1 000km from Bloemfontein to Cape Town to honour his wife’s long battle with cancer and to help raise money for the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa).
On Tuesday, Lieutenant Colonel Deon van der Merwe, who heads up the K9 unit in Bloemfontein, arrived in the city with friends, retired Lieutenant Colonel Anton Crafford and a former commander Hannes Wentzel. Dogs from the K9 unit in Cape Town formed a guard of honour.
Kitted out in a bright green vest emblazoned with the phrase “Walk for Johlene”, Van der Merwe said he dedicated the walk to his late wife who passed away last July after a long battle with cancer.
To date, the trio have raised R40 000 which will be donated to the Bloemfontein Cansa.
“We walked about 37km every day, come rain or shine, with the idea coming from a previous walk I saw in honour of multiple sclerosis sufferers in June, in Free State. It then became an obsession and I knew I wanted to do the journey”, the 58-year-old said.
Filled with emotion, Van der Merwe chronicled the aim of the journey which started on March 29. “I walked in honour of my late wife Johlene who was diagnosed with cancer in 1984.
“The walk was also in honour of the family members of cancer victims. Emotionally, it affects us too, as your whole life is turned upside down. Lastly, I’m still an active police member, while Anton is only recently retired. We thought: let’s walk for some of our members that have been touched by cancer.”
Van der Merwe also handed over certificates of hope from the Bloemfontein Dog Unit to the K9 Unit in Cape Town.
On the recent attacks against police officers, Van der Merwe said: “As members of SAPS, we’ve been getting a lot of flak, but on a provincial level we support our brothers and sisters in blue and that is also what the certificates are for.
“The walk was more than the money it raised. It helped me turn something negative in my life into something positive. It showed me that life has its sunny days and its rainy days,” he said.
Western Cape Police has reiterated a call made to the public asking for their help to seek out the next generation of police dogs. Suitable breeds include German Shepherds (Alsatians), Labradors, Belgian Shepherds, Jack Russells and Border Collies.
“The dogs are maintained to the highest standards and cared for, with our one dog, one handler policy,” said unit commander Colonel Ivan Myers .
“These brave animals are used in the interest of public safety, fighting crime and for search and rescue.”
On average, the dogs are trained for four months and are cared for on-site by the SAPS’s veterinarian.
On the selection of these specialised officers, Myers said “only after a strict selection can a member become a dog handler”.
“If there’s any indication that a member will not be in a position to look after a dog, their transfers are recommended.”
Cape Argus