pmb gays give warmth to pietermaritzburg kids

By Musa Ngubane (BTM Reporter)

July 6, 2006: The Pietermaritzburg Gay and Lesbian Network (PMB Gay & Lesbian Network) and Kismet Hotel collaborated on a fundraising in support of the East Coast Radio winter warmth campaign.

Six hundred and eighty rands (R680, 00) was raised during this collaborative operation and was used to buy blankets that were ultimately handed to Gift of the Givers Foundation that received them on the behalf of East Coast Radio to distribute.

This campaign kickstarted this year on 8 May, and it’s in its second successive year of operation intending to distribute blankets to needy children around Pietermaritzburg.

The campaign was initiated because of the high levels of cold during winter that tend to cause cold related infections and epidemics such as – just to mention a few, flu, colds and fever. According to Anthony Waldhausen – director of the gay organisation these infections could, at any rate, cost people’s lives due to the extreme temperatures the Kwa-Zulu Natal province experiences.

The partner campaigners raised money that could only afford twenty (20) blankets.

“We are grateful of the gay and lesbian members who donated towards the Winter Warmth campaign and contributed to bringing warmth to those who are suffering from this bitter cold season, we are very proud to contribute to the greater society in this time of need”, thrills Waldhausen.

Mervin Chetty of Kismet Hotel was equally happy and said about the hotel; “The Kismet Hotel is always involved in community initiatives and value all those who contributed to donations for this essential cause and we proud to be associated with this campaign”.

The same collaboration was seen last year November but with a different intention. The organisations joined hands with the East Coast radio in collecting toys for children infected with HIV/ Aids for the East Coast Radio Toy Story campaign aimed at entertaining the children during the festive season.