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Plushy love for young patients

District Mail and Helderberg Gazette

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14 May 2025

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Four-year-old JR Els beamed with excitement while seated in the cockpit of the Air Mercy Service (AMS) helicopter that touched down at the Naval sports grounds in Gordon’s Bay on Thursday (8 May). The special landing marked the culmination of the SA Red Cross AMS Soft-toy Drive commemorating World Red Cross Day, where hundreds of donated plush toys were collected for distribution to young patients nationwide. The successful initiative, jointly organised by Gordon’s Bay Tourism and the Gordon’s Bay Business Association, established collection points throughout the seaside village and broader Helderberg basin. Following its launch on Monday 7 April, the campaign quickly gained momentum, extending to the wider community by Friday 11 April (“Soft-toy drive marks Red Cross Day,” DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 23 April). The month-long charitable drive concluded with a final collection on Tuesday (6 May), before Thursday’s spectacular helicopter arrival transformed the naval grounds into a scene of community celebration, with JR representing the next generation of compassionate citizens contributing to this worthy cause. Photos: Jamey Gordon

The AMS crew were elated recipients of donated plush toys, a powerful testament to the boundless compassion of the Gordon’s Bay community in aid of the SA Red Cross AMS Soft-toy Drive. From left are Nikita Werthmann, CEO Farhaad Haffejee, Felicity Luton-Smith and Ivan Greyling (AMS flight medic), who were grateful for the gifts that will bring comfort to young patients across the country’s healthcare facilities.

GBSec chief operating officer and Gordon’s Bay Business Association member Heyns de Waal (left) with Councillor Neil de Beer and AMS CEO Farhaad Haffejee.

The SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service received an impressive donation of 2 000 soft toys collected through the Gordon’s Bay-championed charity drive celebrating World Red Cross Day. The date commemorates the 1828 birth of Henry Dunant, founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.

Eulalia van der Westhuizen, Nataline Denniston, Juanita Kersop and Nina van Rensburg of Gordon’s Bay Primary School were present at the event. The school was lauded as a major contributor to the initiative, with learners and families donating over 300 lovingly selected teddy bears.

The collection event began with a delightful spectacle as GB Med Rescue “teddy-medics” led a special convoy of emergency vehicles to the sports grounds. These vehicles, typically reserved for saving lives, were transformed into affectionately dubbed “bear buses”, each filled to capacity with freshly cleaned teddy bears and soft toys awaiting their new mission of comfort. Pictured is Sunette Ligthelm, who helped coordinate the cheerful procession that brought smiles to onlookers while highlighting the importance of the campaign.

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Categorised:Community, Galleries, News

Tagged:Charity, Community Highlights, Top

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