After surviving liver cancer, Heidi van der Merwe is riding across continents to raise awareness and inspire others to live fully today. Her journey is a reminder that “someday” is a decision, not a date and that today is enough to begin.
South Africa (12 April 2026) – Heidi van der Merwe was 28 years old when she was diagnosed with liver cancer. Today, 23 years later, she is cancer-free, and she asked herself what she wants out of life. “I wanted to travel and raise awareness about liver cancer. It was not about doing something on my bucket list, but to save lives.” The idea changed from adventure to purpose.
Heidi established an NPO, One Life, One Liver. Today, four months later, Heidi and her co-adventurer, Harley, travelled with a Harley Davidson Pan America (sponsored by Harley Davidson Mzanzi) through 12 countries.
Next, they plan to travel through America’s 51 states.
Heidi is the only known survivor of liver cancer whilst being pregnant, and the second-longest liver cancer survivor worldwide.
“When you survive something out of the ordinary, it forces you to ask uncomfortable questions: If I had more time, what would I do with it? For years, I tried to do everything right. For twelve years, I raised my kids as a single mother. I built stability.” When my children left for university, my role changed from a role that had defined me for more than a decade. It was the beginning of an amazing liver cancer awareness journey that is almost complete.”
There was no time to practise; the first journey was the morning we left.
“The first gravel road I have ever ridden upon was in Namibia. All illusions that I was in control evaporated that first week. Africa is not a place of comfort. I lost 10kg in four months but gained perspective. People who had the least complained the least.”
There were setbacks, but Heidi saw it as repositioning. Life is less about control and more about courage. About showing up even when the route changes.
During her travels, she reached more than 30,000 people about liver cancer awareness. It made her aware of the difficult road that cancer patients tread.
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“Every day, I had a destination. Cancer patients do not always have that assurance. The hardest part of having cancer is often not the dramatic days but having consistency. The spiritual weight of uncertainty. This was sometimes the hardest for me, too. It was Africa after all; most days, not everything went as planned. The difference was that I could take a break. Cancer patients cannot take a break.”
Years ago, when she was in an oncology ward, she learned something that the world made us forget.
“Nobody ever says: “I wish I worked harder”, or “I wish I took more time to live”.
We postpone joy with discipline. After this term, or promotion, after the kids complete school. But not everyone will celebrate 50 or 60 years. Some people die with plans, some with potential, and others while they are keeping others happy, waiting for “someday”. “Someday” isn’t a date; it is a decision. Nobody knows how long we have.
“What I do know: I will rather age with stories than be safe with regret. When my life ends, I want to know that I lived it to its fullest. Ask yourself what you are postponing before ‘someday’ becomes never. You have today, and that is good enough to begin.”
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