Maike van Niekerk
Maike van Niekerk is a Canadian activist, author, entrepreneur and medical student. She was raised in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.[1] She founded the cancer charity Katrin's Karepackage, following the death of her mother, Katrin Kohler. Maike completed a PhD in Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. She previously completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Dalhousie University, as a Schulich Leader Scholar.
Katrin's Karepackage[edit]
Van Niekerk's mother, Katrin Kohler, was diagnosed with breast cancer when van Niekerk was aged eight. She survived the first bout, but died seven years later when the cancer returned.[1] Following her mother's death, van Niekerk began volunteering for the Canadian Cancer Society.[1] In 2014, van Niekerk founded Katrin's Karepackage, a charity that offsets the travel costs for cancer patients living in Newfoundland and in Nova Scotia, and fundraised $35,000 by cycling 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) across Newfoundland.[2][3][4] In 2015, she ran seven marathons on seven consecutive days for a fundraiser.[1][5] By September 2018, the charity had raised over $170,000.[6]
Education[edit]
Van Niekerk studied a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Dalhousie University, having won a Schulich Leader Scholarship. At Dalhousie University, she received the Silver Governor General's Academic Medal in 2017 for obtaining the highest academic standing amongst all baccalaureate graduates.[7] In the same year, van Niekerk was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, which allowed her to start a three-year PhD in Psychiatry at the University of Oxford.[2][8][6] In 2020, she was awarded the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship, which allowed her to begin medicine at Stanford University.[9][10]
Awards[edit]
Van Niekerk has been awarded a Meritorious Service Decoration.[1] She received a Canadian Red Cross award for Newfoundland and Labrador's Young Humanitarian of the Year.[3] In 2015, van Niekerk was one of Plan Canada's Top 20 Under 20.[11] In 2017, van Niekerk was one of 100 people on the Women's Executive Network list of Canada's Most Powerful Women.[12][13] In 2018, van Niekerk was one of ten honourees in the L'Oréal Paris Canadian Women of Worth Grant Award Program.[8][14][15]
Bibliography[edit]
- Niekerk, Maike van (2017). Faces Facing Cancer. ISBN 9781389363368.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e McNutt, Ryan (November 21, 2016). "A Mother's Memory, A Daughter's Dedication: Maike van Niekerk becomes Dal's 90th Rhodes Scholar". Dal News. Dalhousie University. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ a b Luck, Shaina (November 22, 2016). "Maike van Niekerk named Dalhousie University's 90th Rhodes Scholar". CBC.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ a b "Maike van Niekerk, Jim Burton awarded by Red Cross for humanitarian work". CBC.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 18, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ "Mother's death inspires teen to bike across Newfoundland". CBC.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 2, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ "Maike van Niekerk running 7 marathons in 7 days for cancer patients". CBC.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 18, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ a b Collie, Meghan (September 30, 2018). "Maike van Niekerk, Psychiatry Researcher & Charity Founder". Flare. Archived from the original on December 4, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ Reeder, Matt; McNutt, Ryan (March 24, 2016). "Community, Compassion, Commitment: Meet the Students Receiving This Year's Governors' Awards in 2016". Dal News. Dalhousie University. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ a b Crocker, Diane (February 22, 2018). "Former Corner Brook resident Maike van Niekerk named a Canadian Women of Worth". The Western Star. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ "From Rhodes Scholar to future Stanford star: Dal alum Maike van Niekerk named Knight‑Hennessy Scholar". Dalhousie News. May 8, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ "Corner Brook academic superstar becomes 1st Newfoundlander to nab big U.S. scholarship". CBC.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 15, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
- ^ "Plan Canada announces Top 20 Under 20 award winners, celebrating achievements and leadership of outstanding youth from across the country" (Press release). Toronto: Cision. Plan Canada. June 3, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ "Corner Brook's Maike van Niekerk named one of Canada's 100 most powerful women". The Western Star. November 24, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ "Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards". Women's Executive Network. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ "Women of Worth | Canadian Edition | L'Oréal Paris Canada". L'Oréal Paris. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ "L'Oréal Paris Celebrates Canadian Humanitarians with Announcement of 2018 Women of Worth Honourees" (Press release). Cision. L'Oréal Paris. February 20, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.