Hopeyulene Buys (9) gives Father Christmas a hug after receiving her gift.
The Eqstra Flying Lions hosted their annual children’s charity day last Sunday, at Rand Airport.
This year the recipient charities were the Masibambisane Centre in Eldorado Park, the Othandweni Family Care Centre in Soweto and the Thembalethu Centre in the Johannesburg CBD.
The children were treated to a day of high flying thrills, as they were taken for a flight in either a Harvard (owned by Arnie Meneghelli), a Baron ZS-LWT (owned by Arnie Meneghelli), or an Arrow ZS-KFM (owned by Dr Harry de Wet and Heinz Shweiger).
A big thank you went out to the pilots for the day, Andrew Blackwood-Murray, Arnie Meneghelli, Dewald Lourens, Gavin Brown, Harry de Wet, Heinz Schweiger, Ivan van der Schaar, Jeff Earle and Rodney Chinn, who made sure the children’s flying experience was one they will never forget.
The people on the ground, Bradley Wood, Candice Ferreira, Dylan and Sam van der Merwe, Jade Erasmus, Keagan Foley, Tyrone Erasmus, William and Roz Tomlinson, Shawn and Cassey-Lee Stoltz, Petrus Rambau, Eunias Mwinga, Geoffrey Kamwendo and Hendrick Lungu, were on hand to help the children in and out of the aircraft, as well as to assist in getting the planes ready.
To assist the team in making the children’s dreams come true, Rand Airport waived the approach and landing fees for the aircraft used on the day.
The children, as well as their house mothers and fathers, were also treated to a delicious lunch at Harvard Café, before the arrival of Father Christmas.
Father Christmas, who jumped out of a Harvard, handed each of the children a gift bag filled with goodies.
The bags were sponsored by Academy Brushware, Creative Space Media, Dr Harry de Wet, Eqstra, Kevro, Music Masters, Nashua, Shell, Taryn Foley and Yankees Lambton.
The children were thrilled with their gifts and their fun-filled day.
The team thanks Sonica van der Schaar for all the photographs she took for them throughout the day.
The day’s volunteers were happy to put smiles on the children’s faces.
The children and volunteers await the arrival of Father Christmas.
Volunteers Cassy-Lee and Shaun Stoltz were on hand to help the children in and out of the aircraft.
Devon Veldman (12) gets strapped in for his flight in one of the world renowned Eqstra Flying Lions’ Harvards, as part of the team’s annual charity day.
Nine-year-old Casmonique Solomons, Lerosca Pretorius (10), Hopeyulene Buys (9), Junior Anthony and Alvandre Reed (11) get ready for their flight, as part of the Eqstra Flying Lions annual children’s charity day.
Not every 12-year-old has the chance to go for a flip in an Eqstra Flying Lions Harvard, but Devon Veldman did.
Father Christmas arrived in style in one of the Eqstra Flying Lions’ Harvards.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual chilChildren treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.dren’s charity day.
Children treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Eqstra Flying Lions’ annual children’s charity day.
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