Sunshine and sunflowers at ladies breakfast

IT WAS all ‘Sunshine and Sunflowers’ at the 9th Annual Sunflower Fund Ladies Breakfast held at the Ridge Convention Centre in Coastlands Musgrave Hotel on Saturday, 28 March.

Women were treated to a morning of good food, fun and inspiration from the two guest speakers: private oncology nurse practitioner, Natasha Nunen, and Wendy Bramley of Fitness Maniacs. Topping it all off were goodie bags for each guest and a variety of raffle prizes.

Sister Nunen took the audience through the challenges and rewards of her everyday personal experiences with oncology patients and her moving path to self-realisation.

“Oncology is the purpose of my life. The experience can’t be described by a single adjective or one encounter. I have faced huge challenges as a nurse in this ward, such as the uncertainty of life, but it’s impossible not to get attached to my patients.

“I have learnt a wealth of lessons through my interactions with them, this is priceless. Their tenacity and resilience makes me stronger,” she said.

The human epitome of determination, Wendy Bramley, co-partner and driving force behind Fitness Maniacs, also captured the ears, hearts and minds of the women through her inspirational and educational talk.

Women were also moved by a DVD featuring two patients who have been affected by leukaemia, and who the Sunflower Fund supports. Allison Naidoo from The Sunflower Fund explained how the fund had to do extensive fundraising and awareness to raise money to help with tissue typing for the South African Bone Marrow Registry, and through the breakfast, an incredible amount of R14 391 was raised.

The more donors on the Registry, the more hope leukaemia sufferers have of finding their 1:100 000 donor match.