Vital donation for Lifeline

THANKS to the generosity of a major pharmaceutical company, Lifeline Zululand is one of the beneficiaries of a whopping R8.5-million donation towards fighting women and child abuse.

The Vital Foundation has donated the funds to over a dozen charities around the country fighting abuse – one of South Africa’s greatest scourges.

Initially R2.7-million was raised for the first funding cycle of 2015, backed by proceeds of R1 from the sale of every Vital supplement.

Vital said the donation was made to address the pandemic of violence having a devastating effect on the health and education of learners, particularly young girls.

A 2008 Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation report reflected a dramatic rise in reported sexual offences in recent years.

From 15 000 rapes in 1986, the figure had almost multiplied by four less than 20 years later.

‘The foundation is committed to funding non-profit organisations that fight women and child abuse while at the same time becoming a premier resource for information-sharing around the issue,’ said Vital Health Foods Managing Director George Grieve.

‘All the funds collected from the vitamin sales will help build a wall of protection against woman and child abuse by supporting organisations who offer support to survivors.’