OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The founder of Pediatric Care Africa and retired neurosurgeon, Dr André Hattingh, left De Rust last Sunday, 8 February, on a motorcycle trip of 7 000km to raise funds for a medical procedure for a eight-month-old boy.
This trip is the 7th annual Ride for a Child charity motorcycle initiated by Hattingh. The only difference is that he will do this one mostly on his own, as unforeseen circumstances have prevented two co-riders from joining him. He will return to De Rust on 1 March.
The epic ride is undertaken to collect funds to render medical assistance to a little boy, Caleb, from Nelspruit, who desperately needs brain surgery. Caleb who is now eight months old, was born with Hemimegalencephaly (HME), a rare and severe brain condition where one side of the brain develops abnormally.
In Caleb's case, the left hemisphere is enlarged and malformed. This condition causes intractable epilepsy, meaning the seizures cannot be outgrown or fully controlled with medication alone.
Joyce Crompvoets of Pediatric Care Africa and wife of Hattingh, says: "We have decided to dedicate our 2026 ride to Caleb, and are organising major fundraising bike rides in Nelspruit, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town in February to raise money for his surgery and treatment. A paediatric neurosurgeon at Mediclinic Constantia, Cape Town, will perform a hemispherectomy.
"This complex, transformative procedure disconnects the affected hemisphere, allowing the healthy side of the brain to compensate and offering Caleb a chance at fewer seizures and improved development. The surgery must be done between the ages of 6 and 24 months."
On his departure on Sunday, Hattingh was joined by Brian Harmse, Kevin O'Donnell and Chris Oosthuizen, three motorcyclists who accompanied him to Beaufort West. Hattingh continued his journey to Bloemfontein in pouring rain and departed for Johannesburg on Monday.
As he travels through major towns, he will be joined by motorcyclists for short distances. The first mass ride to raise funds will take place in Nelspruit, where Caleb and his family live. Mass rides will also be arranged in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.
Donations
Anyone wishing to support Ride for a Child 2026 or request more information can contact Joyce on 076 229 5663 or [email protected].
All public donations are cashless and must be paid directly to Caleb's Back a Buddy account, established by his parents.
The fundraising target is R800 000 for travel between Nelspruit and Cape Town, consultations, surgery, accommodation during Caleb's treatment and uncovered medical expenses.
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