Pocket money for a Big Favour

While driving to school with his dad one morning, Ballito teen Sebastien Lamarque (17) tuned into East Coast Radio, where he listened to presenter Damon Beard changing lives on his popular show “The Big Favour”.

That morning, Damon had helped out a lady who needed school stationery for her children.

Hearing her thankful reaction and how much such a small gesture meant to her, tugged on the Crawford La Lucia pupil’s heart-strings and made him think of all he had to be grateful for.

“The realisation that so many people in our country have to live without the bare necessities, left a hole in my heart,” said Sebastien.

“There and then I decided that I wanted to make some sort of contribution to help make a difference in someone’s life.”

On the spur of the moment, without telling his father, Sebastien immediately sent an email to Damon, telling him that he had some pocket money that he had been saving and wanted to donate it to someone who needed it more than he did.

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“A few weeks later Damon let me know about Keith Cowling’s deteriorating eyesight and his need for a Brailler (Braille typewriter) to read and do homework.”

Keith is a brave little ten-year-old boy who lives with his dad and sister in Pinetown.

“Keith has cone dystrophy, an eye disorder that affects the cone cells of the retina, and currently has about 10% peripheral vision at the bottom of his eyes, which means to see anything, he has to look up to see in front of him,” said Damon.

“When it starts getting dark, Keith has no vision at all.”

He attends the Open Air School in Durban where he uses a brailler.

Once school is over, though, homework is a problem and, without his Brailler, Keith is unable to do anything outside of school hours.

Sebastien, together with the Pather family, who also made a generous donation to The Big Favour for someone deserving, put their donations together and were able to surprise Keith with his very own Brailler.

“It has been such a humbling experience and a privilege to share in the opportunity to positively change a young boy’s life, who has had to endure so many challenges,” said Sebastien.

“Damon’s charitable work has been an inspiration and a motivation to me and has taught me that even the smallest acts of selflessness can make a positive impact in the lives of others.”

Keith’s dad, Malcolm, said Keith is loving his Brailler.

“His sister is learning Afrikaans so now he is trying to type Afrikaans words too!”

Concluded Damon: “They have done the most incredible thing and changed Keith’s life. Thank you to these wonderful people of KZN for opening your hearts to help Keith.”

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