Pridwin Knight Run a success for children with burns

Pridwin Preparatory School hosted their ninth annual Pridwin Knight Run on 14 September in aid of the Baragwanath Paediatric Burns Unit.

The event saw hundreds of community members come through to support the run in aid of a good cause.

Deputy principal Eswee Prinsloo, who organised the first event in 2011, said he was pleased with the turnout on the day.

“We visit the unit every year and are moved as we see the work that they do. When you go, you’ll do the fundraiser 1 000 times over. It is the doctors who choose to work there and make a real difference who are the real heroes,” said Prinsloo.

Marketing manager of Heal the Burns Lyndsay Barr said she was grateful for the awareness and sustainable partnerships that the Pridwin Knight Run brings for the unit.

“We admit on average 400 children with burns to the unit each year, and approximately 25 per cent of those children require intensive care,” said Barr.

She added that the unit consisted of a 26-bed general ward and a seven-bed intensive care section.

“Most of the burn injuries occur as a result of accidents, usually hot water burns, but in winter months we see a large number of flame burns usually as a result of dangerous practices in poor informal settlements. This year has been no exception, with 414 children admitted already this year,” said Barr.

Last year’s run assisted the unit to refurbish staff change rooms and buy new scrubs for staff.

Barr added, “We owe it to our children to give them a fighting chance at the best possible care so that they can go on to live long and full lives.”

To find out more about sponsorship or ways to support the unit, email Lyndsay on lyndsay@healtheburns.co.za

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Join the Pridwin Knight Run and help the Baragwanath Paediatric Burns Unit