Camping happiness

Embracing the great outdoors for body and soul, Gretha Schoonraad never stops camping, even when she’s not feeling her best

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Gretha’s story is an inspiration to everyone, especially campers. Faced with the challenge of glandular cancer, Gretha embraces life with open arms and an unwavering spirit. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, she even told her doctor to wait, as she was going camping first.

Gretha owns her camping gear and sets up camp herself. Tietiesbaai often sees her, and she cherishes the moments spent camping with all her friends. Gretha tells us more. a cancer diagnosis. However, I grew up in a camping household and quickly decided that I wouldn’t let this situation get me down.

My father, Billy Laurence, was a wine farmer in Stellenbosch, and we would often pack the white Pontiac, hitch the caravan, and head to the Strand. There was room for everyone: my mother Elsa, and my sister and brother, Marlize and James, and me. In fact, James still camps with me and all our other friends today.

I started my career as a hairdresser in Stellenbosch, and during my married life, would regularly camp in Stilbaai. We had an Echo 4 off-road trailer, but unfortunately, the marriage eventually came to an end. The Echo was too big for me on my own, so I got myself a Wilderness trailer with a tent on top.