GALLERY and VIDEO: Burns soothed with storytelling
BLAIRGOWRIE – After an accident with fireworks, a pupil of Blairegowrie Primary School suffers from severe burns.
The community of Blairgowrie, through various avenues and individuals, has banded together to help a Grade 4 pupil of Blairgowrie Primary School who suffers from severe burns.
The nine-year-old girl, whose name can not be disclosed due to the sensitive nature of the story and the trauma she has experienced, suffered severe burns from a fireworks incident at Guy Fawkes last year. A firework set her dress alight and she was burned from her diaphragm down to her legs.
The young girl, who is a resident of Soweto, has had skin grafts on her legs but suffers from raw lesions across her abdomen. These lesions formed after the burns became infected earlier this year. She is in need of specific bandages that will keep the lesions clean and assist in the healing process. These bandages cost R640 and need to be changed twice a week.
Fiona Roberts, a class mother at Blairgowrie Primary, jumped in and helped by taking the pupil to the Blairgowrie Pharmacy for a bandage change at the start of March. The girl’s story was also spread on Facebook and many residents and businesses have donated to the cause. The money is sent to the school who has allocated a special fund for the pupil. The money will be used to fund the pupil’s bandages and medication. When the pupil is healed, and if there is still money in the account, the school will use the funds to help other children in the school, who need financial aid, and care for their medical needs.
When the account was step up, within two days, sponsors had donated R26 000. Donations and fundraisers are still being held for the pupil. Nicola Machowski, owner of Kids Village Play Group, lent her skills as a story-teller to gather donations. A story-telling session was held on 1 April at the Elemental Cafe in Blairgowrie, where children of the play group and other residents gathered for three interactive tales which featured kings and farm animals.
Roberts commented, “I think everyone has jumped to help because they can’t imagine it happening to one of their own children. The support has been wonderful.”
If you want to get involved, contact Blairgowrie Primary School on 011 782 5406 for details.
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