Pink Trees for Pauline was founded in 2012 when one woman’s dream became a larger-than-life project which astounds every day.
Carol-Ann van Jaarsveldt who lost her mother and her grandmother, both named Pauline, to cancer turned this monumental loss into an epic tale of hope, encouragement and belonging. The legacy of these two significant women, first started blossoming in their hometown Graaff-Reinet where the trees along the roads were wrapped in pink material to raise cancer awareness and provide hope and inspiration for the ‘Pauline’ in all of our lives.
In 2012 Carol-ann van Jaarsveld, was joined by Adri Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen – a breast cancer survivor and Dr Pam Kerr, an Educational Psychologist – to officially found the non-profit organisation Pink Trees for Pauline.
"Every year during October more than 140 towns country wide use hundreds of metres of fabric supplied by Pink Trees for Pauline to turn their towns pink During September and October. Making a difference in cancer communities across the country has been our core mission since our inception in 2012. It’s a real testimony to the South African spirit of resilience, strength, and tenacity,” says Van Nieuwenhuizen.
The colourful headscarf Pink Trees for Pauline #doekwithadifference campaign in partnership with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) will reach communities across South Africa for the fifth consecutive year. The public as well as the business sector can contribute to this inspiring project, thereby brightening their own lives and the lives of others.
The unique headscarves are sold for R100 each, hoop earrings for R50 as well as bracelets stainless steel earrings for R100 and pink material to decorate trees for R30 p/m. Pink Trees for Pauline invites clubs, workplaces, schools, institutions, and individuals to enthusiastically participate in the #doekwithadifference project. The money generated by Pink Trees for Pauline mostly goes to empower families to take care of palliative patients at home, to buy medical equipment and supply food parcels to needy patients identified by social workers.
Pink Trees for Pauline believes in partnerships and hats off to Triton Express that has been transporting material and other items free of charge to all corners of the country.
If you have a tree, a scrub, a building or a fence that needs a lift, make sure to purchase your pink material and contribute to the wellbeing of the real heroes, the survivors of cancer.
Adri Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen can be contacted on adri@pinktrees.co.za
Pink Trees for Pauline - www.pinktrees.co.za
