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

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

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

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
  • Niekerk, Maike van (2017). Faces Facing Cancer. ISBN 9781389363368.

References
  1. 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.
  2. Luck, Shaina (November 22, 2016). "Maike van Niekerk named Dalhousie University's 90th Rhodes Scholar". CBC.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  3. "Maike van Niekerk, Jim Burton awarded by Red Cross for humanitarian work". CBC.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 18, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  4. "Mother's death inspires teen to bike across Newfoundland". CBC.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 2, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  5. "Maike van Niekerk running 7 marathons in 7 days for cancer patients". CBC.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 18, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  6. Collie, Meghan (September 30, 2018). "Maike van Niekerk, Psychiatry Researcher & Charity Founder". Flare. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. "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.
  10. "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.
  11. "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.
  12. "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.
  13. "Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards". Women's Executive Network. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  14. "Women of Worth | Canadian Edition | L'Oréal Paris Canada". L'Oréal Paris. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  15. "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.
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