On Saturday, 9 September 2023, a large number of invited affected members from Durban and surrounding, their families and friends, and volunteers of KZN Branch gathered for the branch’s 2023 AGM and Annual Awareness Day, held at the Durban Jewish Centre. With September being Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month, the Awareness Day for the KZN Branch is held on the same day as its AGM, so that many affected members and guests can use this day to meet and greet each other and to share their successes and challenges.
The theme for the event was “Your Support Means Hope” together with “Get into the Green Scene”, and various banners and posters highlighted the awareness of muscular dystrophy. It was good to see many people dressed in the relevant awareness colours.
The meeting was once again a happy occasion, with a larger attendance than ever before. This was evident from the 156 people who registered on arrival for the event. There is no doubt that the Office Manager, Lovina Mahadaw and the Branch Administrator, Debbie Goldstone had gone out of their way to ensure that as many people as possible on their KZN database were invited to attend. The number of attendees from last year doubled this year, and the initiative taken by the KZN Branch staff and Exco to hold the AGM and Awareness Day on the same day is paying off. “The strategy used by the branch was implemented last year and, hopefully, we would like to see the consistent attendance numbers going forward”, said Lovina.
After the formal business of the branch’s AGM, there were various lucky draws, and gift bags and promotional items were handed out to the affected members and to other young guests. The audience was captivated by the inspiring stories of hope told by affected members and parents who volunteered to speak. The highlight of the event was no doubt the stories told by the young affected members, who are positive role models for others.
For example, Nicole Padayachee, who is 21 years old and in the final year of the LLB degree, told the audience that a secret of her success is her motto, “I can, I will” and her affirmation, “nothing stops me”. Nicole, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), also told the audience that she raises awareness of muscular dystrophy and in particular of SMA wherever she can.
Zukiswa Biyela, a second-year BA degree student at UKZN, paid tribute to her strong, passionate mother, who has supported her throughout, motivating her to exercise and keep herself as strong as possible. Zukiswa also shared her motto, “I can and I hope”. Twin sisters from Westville, Jayrashni (Pixie) and Kayrashni (Molly), who both suffer from spinal muscular atrophy, gave a moving account of how they constantly strive to keep themselves healthy, strong and positive. They then shared their dream of opening a shop that would sell chicken marinated in their own special sauce. They currently have a business called Hotshots, producing and selling chilli sauces and pickles, and
now seek a partner who would be interested in investing in a new business and guiding them though the steps needed to grow and expand their business.
Mrs Narbda Bhanjee, who is in her late 70s and who had lost her daughter to muscular dystrophy just a month before, spoke of the love and appreciation that is due to “the special children that are entrusted to our care”. She appealed to parents to give their special children all possible love, care and support, so that there will be no regrets when they are no longer around.
The vote of thanks was conducted by KZN Branch Exco member, Prylash Singh, who thanked the following:
Reutech Communications for promotional items and gifts. MDF KZN celebrates inspiring stories of hope and gifts.
- Solly Manjra Caterers for the deck of chicken breyani.
- Colin Kisten from CNC Caterers, Chatsworth for breakfast snacks, catering dishes and cutlery.
- Planet Video for supplying and delivering the helium
balloons at cost. - Pam Rapiti for payment towards helium balloons.
- Sweets and Biscuits, Pinetown for biscuits.
- Glenda Naicker from the Durban Jewish Centre for the
venue at discounted rates and the sponsoring of gift
hampers. - Staff from the Durban Jewish Centre for assisting with
the setting up and clearance of the venue. - Coo-ee for all the bottled cool drinks.
- MDF KZN volunteer Cheryl Moodley for the “Get into
the Green Scene” cake. - Anesh Ramklass for transportation of food and his position as the AGM Election Officer.
- Mr Ramlall from Southern Sun for the 4 x gift vouchers
for dinner, breakfast and accommodation. - Tiger Brands for chocolates.
- MDF KZN Branch staff, Lovina Mahadaw and Debbie
Goldstone for the splendid event planning and organising of sponsorships. - Wilna Botha for all the interviews and writing of the
magazine articles during the year. - Gerda and Dominic Brown for making the trip from
Johannesburg to KZN to attend the day’s event. - Anesh Singh for the AGM onsite IT support.
- All volunteers of the MDF KZN Branch for their loyal
service to the branch. - The KZN Branch Exco for their services in the past financial year (2022–2023).
- All sponsors and donors who remained anonymous.
- All the guests who took the time to attend the event to make it a success.
Finally, after a sumptuous lunch, the gathering assembled outside the Durban Jewish Centre to release hundreds of red and green balloons into the clear Durban sky to celebrate the lives of affected members who had passed on during the previous year.