Birthday Buddies reaching out to make a child’s birthday a day to remember

Giving a child who has never had a birthday party before, the opportunity to also celebrate their special day in a way they will never forget, is the aim of the My Birthday Buddies initiative, a non-profit organisation that goes out to schools.

They carefully identify and select children between the ages of five and twelve, who are celebrating their birthday in the upcoming month and have never had the privilege of a birthday party. With help from sponsors and board members, the children selected, together with ten of their best buddies, then get a birthday party that will certainly make their birthday a day to remember.

Without the help of sponsors, this amazing initiative would not be possible, says Trevor Kelly, chairman and sponsor of The My Birthday Buddies initiative. Currently, it is only possible to do up to two parties a month. The aim is to double this to four parties a month.

Businessmen and interested sponsors who are willing to help with this worthy cause are more than welcome to phone Kelly on 082 4626 889 for more information. This month, there were two parties on the same day, one for a boy who turned 10 years old, and the other for a girl who turned 9, both from Sindekile School in Tumahole.

Their parties had been made possible by Trevor Kelly, Adam Riekert (vice chairman and sponsor – DP Restaurant), Percy Ueckermann (board member and sponsor – DP Restaurant), Michael Grobler (board member and sponsor – Egweni), Chane de Jager (board secretary and sponsor – Epilepsy SA), Elaine Nienaber, Toon and Daleen Bester, Izack and Naomi Nagel, Epilepsy SA Free State/Northwest branch (all sponsors), Ferdi and Elsa van Gass (Egweni) who granted the board the use of their well manicured grounds, and Lou van Wyk who helped with legal work.