A Helping Hand for Zodwa Radebe:

RAISING FUNDS AND CREATING AWARENESS ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF 9 YEAR OLD ZODWA RADEBE WHO IS AFFLICTED WITH OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA. – A RARE DEBILITATING AND INCURABLE BONE DISEASEating, incurable bone disease

Unlike most nine year olds, Zodwa Radebe, does not spend the better part of her short life at a school nor playing with friends. Unlike most children her age, she cannot walk or even stand because she suffers from a debilitating disease called osteoogenesis imperfecta – a disease, which causes fragility of the bones.  Her tender body has had to endure twenty-two fractures, one as recently as in September 2005, and she has had to go through countless operations and has to visit hospital regularly to be attended to.

Repairing her broken bones is an intricate operation using pins specially imported from Britain. For her parents, their struggle is not only about seeing their dreams and hopes for a better life for their daughter disappear with each hospital visit, but it is also about the financial battle of keeping up with hospital bills.

It was for this reason that we as the Executive Reserve Club (ERC) dedicated our annual fund raising dinner, to the plight of Zodwa and other children in her condition. The dinner was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sandton on 15 July 2005. The ERC was trying to make Zodwa’s life slightly bearable by providing her with an electric wheelchair. 

The ERC was formed 12 years ago, as a body of black professionals and businessmen and women from diverse backgrounds with a common vision to free society from the grips of the oppressive system of apartheid. Its key focus is on the economic liberation of African people and the upliftment of lives that are affected by societal deficiencies.  

Today the Club boasts several prominent business people in its ranks. As part of its mission, every year, the Club identifies an initiative that is in dire need of funds and also exposes that initiative to the broader fraternity of donors. 

The function that was addressed by the Gauteng MEC for Health, Dr. Gwen Ramokgopa was a resounding success, and a very emotional one, especially when Zodwa sang to the audience. Again the ERC has made a huge difference to the life of this little girl. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the companies that contributed generously to our fundraising dinner. 

The following companies supported us for this initiative: ABSA, Anglo American, Transnet Foundation, DTI, Liberty Life, Nissan SA, the African Diplomatic Group, ESKOM, Southwest Systems, S.A. Express, Legend Lodges (offered a price for the business card raffle) a Pretoria Musical School Group performed for free, and an unemployed artist from the Wesrand, Kgosi did a painting of Zodwa which was auctioned. Champion Tours also offered a prize – a trip to the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt for 2006 which was also auctioned. 

The evening was a real success, and on behalf of the ERC I would like to thank all those who supported our initiative, including the MD of Vulindlela Communications, Pinky Khoabane and her staff for the sterling job that they did I putting this event together for us.