A 1972 VW Beetle will soon set off on a 14 500km journey from Cape Town to Romania to raise funds to help underprivileged children receive heart surgeries at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Parktown.
The Boikanyo Foundation was established by members of the Round Table Golden East 181 Group in 2006 and has since funded 100 surgeries, 30 of which were at the children’s hospital.
One in every 100 children worldwide is estimated born with a congenital heart condition. Many of these children will die if they do not receive the necessary treatment.
Biokanyo Bug Project convener Gareth Coats said, “We became aware of the never-declining waiting list of children in need of heart surgery and wanted to play our part in changing this.”
CEO of the children’s hospital Mandisa Maholwana said, “Fund-raising is an important part of our history as a hospital. We are honoured when partners and members of the public put their creativity forward in the spirit of supporting patients at our hospital. This is an incredible demonstration of Mandela’s vision for this facility and is more poignant as we celebrate his life and legacy this month.”
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Paediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Kathy Vanderdonck explained that since advances in technology assisted to diagnose children earlier with more complex cardiac lesions, children with the more simple lesions were often pushed to the back of the list.
“Boikanyo has helped pay for the more simple procedures where children can go on to live a normal life following surgery,” said Vanderdonck.
Paediatric cardiologist Dr Mamaila Lebea said, “Poverty is a weapon of mass destruction, but with the Boikanyo Foundation and Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, every child can live, thrive and become economically productive adult.”
Driver Alex Staniland used parts from three cars to refurbish the 1972 bug and is determined to get the car to Romania.
The trip will begin on Nelson Mandela Day on July 18 and they hope to arrive in Romania for the Round Table International Meeting in August.
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