Cameron Waldeck-Cooks’ Father Shares Emotional Response to Trans Baviaans Tribute
- Grant Hallowell and his team carried Cameron Waldeck-Cook’s memory during the gruelling Trans Baviaans
- Cameron’s father, Derrick Cooks, has opened up about what the tribute meant to the family
- Hallowell’s personal message highlighted the people Cameron left behind and those remembering her
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Facebook
Cameron Waldeck-Cooks’ father, Derrick Cooks, has shared an emotional response after Grant Hallowell and his team honoured his daughter during the Trans Baviaans Race.
Hallowell shared a photograph and message on Instagram after taking part in the demanding endurance event, making it clear that Cameron and her family were on his mind throughout the challenge.
“Trans Baviaans Race - In honour of Cameron Waldeck-Cooks,” Hallowell wrote.
He continued by explaining that his thoughts were with Cameron’s loved ones.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
“My thoughts were there with my mates Claire, Derick and Ethan Waldeck-Cooks and the greater Waldeck and Cooks families,” Hallowell wrote.
The tribute also extended to Ric, who was unable to take part in the race.
“Ric I know you were not there peddling but you were there in spirit - especially on FAC,” Hallowell added.
He ended the message with two words that captured the purpose behind the ride:
“TEAM Cam”.
Derrick Cooks says tribute ‘means everything’
Cameron’s father responded directly to Hallowell’s post, expressing his gratitude for the gesture and the effort made by the riders.
“Pal, this means more to me than I can put into words,” Derrick wrote.
He described what Hallowell and the team had done for Cameron as “incredibly special”.
Derrick also explained that he wished he could have been there alongside the riders.
“I so wish I could have been there with you guys,” he wrote, before adding that knowing they had carried Cameron’s memory with them “means everything”.
The message was shared on behalf of Cameron’s family, with Derrick asking Hallowell to thank everyone involved.
“Please thank the whole team from Claire, Ethan and me,” he wrote.
Derrick’s response ended with a poignant reflection on his daughter.
“Cam would have absolutely loved this,” he wrote.
The message prompted further supportive responses from people in the comments, including messages describing the tribute as “so special” and remembering Cameron.
The Trans Baviaans is a 24-hour endurance mountain-bike event, making the tribute part of an especially demanding challenge.
For Cameron’s family, however, the significance appeared to extend beyond the race itself. Hallowell’s decision to dedicate the ride to Cameron gave those taking part a way to carry her memory with them, while Derrick’s response showed how deeply the gesture was felt by her loved ones.
Women’s groups respond to Cameron Waldeck-Cooks’ death
Briefly News previously reported that Cameron Waldeck-Cooks’ death prompted a strong response from women’s rights organisations, with Women For Change describing the 17-year-old’s death as “another devastating femicide case”. The organisation also questioned how much more must be endured before meaningful change is made.
SA Women Fight Back took a different approach, urging people to remember Cameron for the life she lived.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
