Rina’s 82-year journey of walking for purpose
At 82, Rina Majiedt proves that compassion has no age limit as she walks 10 kilometres to restore hope one step at a time.
Rina Majiedt, an 82-year-old resident of Senior Park put on her walking shoes and resumed her journey at a time when most people would prefer to curl up with a cup of tea and a cosy blanket. On 7 November, her birthday, Rina chose to walk ten kilometres with friends and her children to raise money for a rehabilitation facility near Rehoboth, while others were blowing out candles or opening presents.Before daylight, at a brisk 05:00. Why? “I told my kids that I only want N$82 instead of a gift or a new pair of underwear,” she remarked, laughing as only a vibrant person could. That modest request was made not for herself, but to revitalise a neglected facility assisting individuals battling drug and alcohol addiction.
“The building has been abandoned there, very abandoned, not in good condition,” she explained, her voice thick with emotion. “The centre is there to help people, so why can't I help them?”
Compassion into kilometres
It was not the first time Majiedt, as she’s fondly known, had turned her compassion into kilometres. In 2013, she walked from Windhoek to Okahandja to raise money for a blind man, leaving at dawn and arriving by afternoon. She smiled as she recalled her earlier walks - one from Banhoff Station to Rehoboth for the local old-age home and another in 2021 for the Cancer Association, from Windhoek to Brakwater.
“The children that sleep on the street, under the bridges, are close to my heart,” she said, trying to hold back tears. “They don’t need money; they need our hands, our love, which we must give to help.”
That compassion does not come from nowhere. She has known her share of heartbreak. After being married for six decades, she lost her husband five years ago and found herself struggling to find purpose again. “We were married for 60 years and one week,” she recalled softly. “I just found it very difficult doing life alone, but here I am,” she said, wiping away tears with a brave smile.
Driving force
“The person who still pushes and drives me to do this is Gaynor Platt,” she said, her eyes glistening. “A walk she wishes not to die out, as all is for a good cause.”
This year’s walk was far from lonely. More than 30 people joined her, including old friends and supporters who could not resist her infectious energy. “You had all the energy to walk your 10 km and still come get us!” joked Joos Platt, laughing as Rina chuckled in agreement. “I am still full of energy and can still walk faster than some of my age mates,” she said proudly.
What began as a plan for a 2 km walk turned into a 10 km journey of determination and faith. Her goal is to raise N$30 000 for the rehabilitation centre, and donations are still coming in.
For Gaynor Platt, the walk was more than a fundraiser; it was an act of thanksgiving. “The walk was to thank God for the life of Rina Majiedt,” she said. “I thank God for her 82 years because today I can say I'm free from cancer.”
As Rina talks about the day she will hand over the money to help revive the centre, her face lights up with childlike excitement. “I still want to live to support or help people, especially those in rehabilitation centres,” she said with conviction. “But I must tell you, Joos Platt is the real force behind me, and his daughter.”
From Aris to Rehoboth, from Windhoek to Okahandja, she has proven one thing over and over again: you are never too old, too tired, or too heartbroken to make a difference.
Her story is a reminder that love does not retire; it keeps walking. - [email protected]