Daniel and Friends Fund: Year-End Function

What is the Daniel and Friends Fund?

On the 23rd August 2013 little Daniel le Roux lost his lengthy and courageous battle with Leigh Syndrome, exactly one week after another little warrior, Mariele Laurie, succumbed to complications of the syndrome she suffered from, Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome. Professor Pieter Fourie, whose care of and love for Daniel and Mariele had gone over and beyond anything which might be considered fair professional expectation, was determined not to allow the heartache and devastation caused by such tragedy to go without lending itself to a higher purpose...and so shortly after Mariele and Daniel had earned their angel wings, Professor Fourie shared with Kate and Lianie, their mothers, his vision for an organisation which would provide much-needed support for other parents who might be on a similar journey. Just a few short months later, the Daniel and Friends Fund was born guided by, by this time, three special needs mothers, each symbolic of the three friends who had helped Daniel in the Biblical passage from which Professor Fourie had drawn his inspiration.

Since their launch in February 2014, the Daniel and Friends Fund (a registered non-profit organisation) and the dedicated and driven people behind it, have provided not only the emotional and psychological support often sought by parents of children with special needs, but have also committed to ensuring that these parents have had access to the necessary knowledge and training in order to equip them to care for their children in the best possible way that they can. While largely focusing on top priority issues like providing extremely affordable CPR courses, free therapy sessions, psychology-based programs for the parents, occasional donations of items/equipment necessary for caring for a child with special needs...the importance of also creating a fundamental base from which friendships and 'normalcy' can stem has not gone overlooked. To this end, the Daniel and Friends Fund mommies are often treated on special days like Mother's Day and Women's Day and, where possible, these invitations are extended to the entire family for celebrations such as Mandela Day, Christmas Day, etc.

The purpose of our blog is not only to provide the opportunity for sponsors, supporters and followers to stay in touch with the various projects and events we're busy with but also, and just as importantly, to provide an insight for others into what life entails for families on a special needs journey, as well as enlightening fellow parents to the fact that this journey need not be travelled alone...

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Year-End Function

On Saturday, 14th November, more than twenty of our Daniel and Friends Fund families got together to celebrate another successful year of building a stronger, more intimate special needs community. The function, held again at the beautiful Eaglevlei Wine Farm/Restaurant, situated just off the R101 in Muldersvlei, Stellenbosch, enjoyed outstanding service from the staff and had every need catered to by Events Coordinator, Amanda Goosen.

Emotions ran high as proceedings began with a short memorial dedication in remembrance of the children who had earned their angel wings due to complications of the respective conditions they suffered with, but tears were soon replaced with smiles as newly-appointed representatives, committee members and the most recent addition to our DANIEL AND FRIENDS FUND family as ambassador, Jordyn McKenzie (reigning Miss Teen Hope Western Cape 2015) came forward to receive an official welcome and warm celebration.

Once the delicious buffet lunch and refreshments had been enjoyed, it was time for a certain Christmas suit-clad gentleman to make his entrance, spreading an infectious cheer amongst the children and managing to attract giggles from even the teenagers. Gifts safely tucked away and many a chocolate-stained mouth revealing just how decadent the gorgeous cake was, the morning ended with very many sittings at the entertaining photo booth provided again by Kiekiefoto.