Hospice thanks public for support

Nelspruit Hospice’s CEO, Landi Bezuidenhout, has thanked the public for its ongoing and generous support that alleviated a difficult year of fundraising efforts in 2022.

“The biggest challenge last year was that our anticipated Lotto funding did not materialise. Lotto stopped payouts to NGOs as the money they had available was not enough for the number of applications received,” Bezuidenhout said.

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This resulted in the retrenchment of a professional nurse and an administrative officer, which placed a heavy burden on the remaining staff.

“I want to say thank you to my staff for helping to carry the burden. Without you, we could not have done it.”

A public plea was made for assistance and the Mbombela community stood together and decided to support hospice. Rather than see one of its most essential and well-loved organisations close its doors to those needing specialist palliative care services, the people of Mbombela boosted hospice with the necessary love and financial support to stay afloat.

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Highlights of 2022 included:
• An education and awareness day at the Valley Hyper Market.
• Dr Sarita Retief hosted an Innibos Huiskonsert on June 1. Guest artists were Jak de Priester and Bibi Slippers. It was also broadcast live on Radio Laeveld.
• Dawie Roodt was the guest speaker at a business breakfast in aid of hospice at the Mbombela Golf Club on June 22. About 100 people attended.
• Two pop-up markets took place on July 9 and November 26.
• The sisters of the Gereformeerde Kerk presented a Lied, Lof, Lewe music concert on August 14, which was very well attended.
• Koos Schoonraad was in charge of the drinks stall at the Penryn Festival where Mango Groove performed on August 19. The Caipirinha cocktails flowed, as did the water from the rained-out event.
• The annual Motus Toyota Nelspruit Hospice Golf Day took place on August 26.
• Fanie Bekker ran the Comrades Marathon in aid of hospice on August 28. He completed the run and received good sponsorships that aided hospice to continue its care-giving work.
• The organisers of the Elmswood Night Market invited hospice to have a stall on September 9.
• Lewies Dippenaar of the Windpomp restaurant at Bahati arranged a braai day competition on September 24.
• The Greek Kouzina hosted a beach party, which raised R3 500 in aid of hospice on November 26.

Bezuidenhout made special mention of key supporters such as Laeveld Trust that supported hospice for six months and then extended its support to three more. In addition, the Dis-Chem Foundation contributed to fuel costs for vehicles and sponsored stock and equipment needed for patient care.

She said a successful grant proposal was submitted to the IQRAA Trust, which contributed to hospice professional nurse’s salary until February 2022. She also thanked the Guthrie family, originally from Barberton, who sold their parents’ house and contributed twice to hospice.

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Bezuidenhout added, “We also have regular donors who donate anything from R50 or more on a monthly basis, and these are the cornerstone of our sustainability. For each and every donor out there, we are immensely grateful and so proud to be recognised as an important part of the health and welfare of the Mbombela community.”

Fortunately, Lotto has approved payment to hospice for the 2023 financial year, which will help with the maintenance and security of the property, and enables it to purchase more equipment.