Maike van Niekerk, Jim Burton awarded by Red Cross for humanitarian work
The Canadian Red Cross honoured two people Tuesday night for their humanitarian work in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Maike van Niekerk received the award for Young Humanitarian of the Year at a gala in St. John's.
Van Niekerk, from Corner Brook, was 15 when she lost her mother to breast cancer. Since then, she has dedicated her life to helping other people with the disease.
Last summer, she biked from St. Anthony to St. John's and raised $35,000 for Katrin's Karepackage, a program started in memory of her mother that helps offset the costs of patients who have to travel across the province for radiation treatment.
For me, it's a part of doing what's right.- Jim Burton
"I think that she would be incredibly proud," van Niekerk said of what her mother would think of the award.
"The last thing that I said to my mom was that I'd never stop fighting in her memory and I think me winning this award today shows that I did what I told her, so I think she would be very proud of that."
Van Niekerk is currently training for seven consecutive marathons she will run in the week before Christmas, starting in St. John's and moving toward Corner Brook.
As a third-year student at Dalhousie University, van Niekerk said it is a challenge to get her training in.
"It's really difficult. It either means that I'm training very, very early in the morning, at like 5 o'clock, or I'm training fairly late at night. School is always my priority," she said.
'Small part' of volunteer base
St. John's businessman Jim Burton was given the Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year award.
The realtor and long-time member of the Rotary Club also chairs the board for Hope Air, an organization that helps cover the cost of air travel for people needing medical attention in the province.
"In Newfoundland and Labrador so far this year we have done 1,400 flights," said Burton.
Burton said he was humbled by the award, adding that he's just a small part of the province's large volunteer base.
"I'm privileged and feeling very grateful at the same time that people would consider me in this particular way," he said.
"There's some 5,000 volunteers organizations in the province — that's one for every 100 people in Newfoundland and Labrador and truly this recognition is theirs. I have a small part of it."
When it comes to volunteer and humanitarian work, Burton said one of the most important things in life is being able to help others.
"It's important to do my part in my community to make it a happier and healthier place and I want to ensure that my children — and their children — follow in those footsteps," he said.
"For me, it's a part of doing what's right."