Whenever I get the opportunity to talk to a young patient or a parent, I am reminded of the importance of why we exist as an organization. A little while ago, I met a young mother from Durban who had put her dreams on hold to make sure that her daughter had access to the best care possible. Her daughter was born with a condition that required regular hospitalisation and ongoing care at home, she was a very sick little girl. Her daughter is now eight years old and comes to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital when certain medical care is required. What struck me about this mother, was her strength and her ability to focus on what was important for her and her family. She knew that her daughter needed her strength to help her build her resilience to never give up on life, no matter how sick she got. She showed me photos of her daughter proudly going to school, playing with her older brother and doing what children her age should be doing. You could feel the connection between the mother and her daughter, this little girl was one of the happiest patients I have ever met. Even better news is that the mother is studying now and continues to demonstrate to her daughter that you must never give up on your dreams. Being true to who we are and who we serve, provides the foundation that guides us in reaching our goals. As a team, we are guided by our values of integrity, collaboration, accountability, dynamism and kindness. Special appreciation to our Donors who have supported us in different ways, this makes a valuable difference in helping us meet the needs of those we serve.
– Chantel Cooper (CEO)
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Thank you for your commitment to help change the lives of the sick and injured children at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH). This commitment has come to fruition during Phase 1 of the Emergency Centre upgrade. Thank you for your generous support!
Many patients have already benefited directly from the upgrade, including little Ethan, who had a very rough start to his life. Together with the Social Work Service at RCWMCH, Ethan has a chance to regain his childhood and live the life a young boy should live. The Social Work Service and Child Protection Room within the Emergency Centre continue to help society’s most vulnerable.
Phase 2 construction is currently in progress, and we cannot wait to share the brand-new space with the little ones. During Phase 2 we look forward to fully equipping the Emergency Centre with essential, life-saving medical equipment.
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No matter how small your actions, Mandela Day is about changing the world for the better! Are you stumped for ideas? How about rallying your household together these school holidays and decluttering your wardrobes? It’s a fun way to get the kids involved and help them start their journey of giving back.
There are various ways you can contribute during Mandela Month, including new or gently worn clothing, non-perishable foods and snack packs, hygiene products or donate R67 in lieu of your 67 minutes in celebration of Madiba’s birthday. What is great about a monetary donation, is that you can challenge friends and family to do the same in a safe (and virtual) way.
Your acts of service sow the seeds of compassion that help us cultivate a garden of hope for all our little patients because every little one counts.
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Come and experience the spirit and excitement of South Africa’s most beautiful cycling event, while changing the lives of the little patients at the RCWMCH. All you must do is complete an entry form and e-mail it to marisa.calvert@chtrust.org.za before the end of July.
Let’s do it for the little ones!
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