Dis-Chem Foundation donates R300 000 to Smile Foundation
The Dis-Chem Foundation have pledged to donate R300 000 to the Smile Foundation, an NGO that assists children with any type of facial abnormalities such as Cleft Lip and Palate, burn victims, Moebius syndrome (facial paralysis) and other conditions, to receive reconstructive surgery within South Africa.
THE 947’s Breakfast Xpress team visited the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and the host of the show Darren Simpson spoke to Prof Tim Cristofides, a surgeon at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital and Hedley Lewis from Smile foundation.
Darren was moved after being invited into the operating room and seeing first-hand what the team help accomplish for every patient.
Hedley also described his excitement of being part of an initiative that helps change a child’s life through reconstructive surgery. The foundation hosts a Smile Week, which is a comprehensive project whereby surgeons, doctors, nurses, anesthetists, occupational therapists, speech and hearing therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, the Department of Health, sponsors, patrons and various individuals, work together. And the Dis-Chem Foundation has come out to help.
Penny Stein from the Dis-Chem Foundation indicated that they will be participating in Smile Week that runs from 23-27 May. The Foundation is making it possible for 20 children to receive life-changing operations at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
According to Prof Cristofides, the Charlotte Maxeke hospital offers this service all year round but the Smile Week is a great week because it’s consolidated into one week and is a collaboration between the Smile Foundation and the hospital. He explains that it’s not just the doctors who help make this happen, but the entire team that assists with each operation.
The Smile Foundation is currently based in eight academic hospitals around the country. The Foundation invests in the medical teams they work with, through an academic skills programme, and assist the hospitals by purchasing equipment for use by the Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Former President Nelson Mandela was the chief patron of the Smile Foundation and his wish was for the Foundation to assist as many children around South Africa as possible to alleviate the stigma attached to living with a facial condition.
The Foundation assists various hospitals in different ways, one of which is a Smile Week.
“The Dis-Chem Foundation is privileged to partner on this Smile Week. This critical intervention of reconstructive facial surgery at such a young age is vital and life changing. With the assistance of top surgeons, doctors, nurses and therapy, the kids will be able to smile again,” said Lynette Saltzman, founder of the Dis-Chem Foundation.
To watch the video, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJH-vdxrlLc
947 would like to thank the Dis-Chem Foundation for assisting with this particular request.
The Dis-Chem Foundation has come on board to help 947 make a difference throughout the year with requests for assistance from organisations or group of individuals. They need you to tell them which organisation or group of individuals need help.
You can visit 947.co.za and tell us who has a specific need that 947 and the Dis-Chem Foundation can assist with.
Courtesy: Primedia Broadcasting, Joburg
