GALLERY: Power couple speak at Umduduzi Angels Breakfast

UMDUDUZI, a non-profit organisation that provides paediatric palliative care and support to children who have a terminal illness and their families, hosted its annual Angels Breakfast at Durban Botanic Gardens.

The breakfast has two purposes, to raise much needed funds for the organisation and to honour other palliative care providers with a certificate of appreciation for their work. This year the angels were Verulam Regional Hospice, KZN Children’s Hospital’s palliative care team and St Mary’s School.

Guest speakers at the event were runners up on the reality TV show Power Couple, Dyllan Smith and Viki van den Barselaar-Smith, who shared their on and off screen experience of this novel series.

“Tracey and I are ardent fans of the series and were truly humbled by their experience. We’re so glad they could share their story with us,” said Dr Julia Ambler, co-founder of Umduduzi.

Tracey Brand, co-founder of Umduduzi, said during 2015, through donations Umduduzi saw 150 new children receive effective palliative care up to death. The organisation also held a Summer Challenge with Global Giving UK where people donated more than 4000 pounds and raised enough money to pay the salary for a part-time nurse.

“This extra help means more clinical work and home visits and an extra two children will be visited each day,” she said.

Julia said Umduduzi is also running the Sithandeni Play Programme through donations from the NPO’s 100 Club monthly donors who helped to ensure children are well stimulated at Clairwood Hospital.

“We are building a relationship with King Dinuzulu (King George V) Hospital’s orthopaedic unit, where we aim to start a new play programme for the children. We are also working with International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) where palliative care programmes for children are being encouraged all over the world,” she said.

Visit www.umduduzi.co.za