Give a Child a Safe Anchor at Vineyard Houses

My name is Alicia Eksteen, and I’ll be taking part in the Ironman 70.3 Mossel Bay on the 16th of November. As a speech therapist, I’ve dedicated my life to helping children find their voice. But this time, I’m running for the voices of the women who quietly carry the weight of others — the foster mothers at Vineyard Housing Foster Homes in Stellenbosch.

Through our Back a Buddy campaign, we aim to raise funds to support the salaries of these incredible mothers — women who open their hearts and homes to children who may not have had the privilege of growing up with their own.

I know what it feels like to lose that anchor.
When I was ten years old, my mother passed away at just 34. I had an extended family support structure, but I learned early how powerful, fragile, and irreplaceable a mother’s presence is.

That’s why this cause is so close to my heart.
Every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and loved. The mothers at Vineyard Housing are doing exactly that — they’re running a lifelong race of love, showing up day after day for children who desperately need...