Barnswallows Baby Shelter in Weltevreden Park managed to raise over R100 000 during the golf day held at the Eagle Canon Golf Course on 23 May.
According to Barnswallows’ director Rene Testa, this was made possible by the involvement of Suzuki Bryanston and Northcliff and their suppliers as well as the golfers. “Our aim was to raise an amount of R100 000 and it was achieved,” she said. Testa mentioned that the money will be used to expand the shelter and to provide better services to the babies with special needs. The shelter cares and rehabilitates abused and abandoned babies. “We had 132 golf players on the day and the auction was a success and lots of prizes were won,” she said. The day was also graced by the presence of Lorna Greyling, who is one of the finalists in the Mrs South Africa Pageant. Greyling will be competing in August at the Emperor’s Palace. “It is an honour for me to support this wonderful baby shelter and to be a blessing to these babies,”she said.
Greyling helped with fundraising by bringing awareness of the event as well as well as the baby shelter. She also helped with selling raffles and promoting the event throughout the day on social media. She also inspired some of the golfers by encouraging them.
“Suzuki franchise wanted to have a partnership with the local charity and we thought the work Barnswallows is doing, is close to our heart and ideal that we can associate with,” said Franciscos Gaie from Suzuki which was also one of the sponsors of the day. He added that they will look at establishing a further relationship with the shelter.
One of the golfers, André Kotze, said he was happy to have taken part in the event as it is a way of supporting the babies’ lives.
