Social responsibility escapes no one, it is not reserved
for big corporates and more than ever before we are seeing international
celebrities using their social influence to add impetus to a number of
deserving causes. In South Africa local personalities with a social conscience
are doing the same.
Popular local musician Garth Taylor used his influence and fists to raise funds for the Little Fighters Cancer Trust when he competed in the White Collar Boxing charity match in June 2016 as part of the #YouPledgeIFight initiative.
Little Fighters Cancer Trust is
an NPO that offers support to
children diagnosed with cancer and their families, through a variety of
individualised assistance, including, but not restricted to, provision of food
and groceries, transport, clothing, furnishings, bedding, medication, medical
equipment and 24 hour emotional support.
Commenting on the importance of such an organisation Mandie Erasmus from LFCT said, “Parents of diagnosed children often lose or leave their
jobs to be able to provide the special care and support required, which,
together with the huge emotional strain of having a terminally sick child,
often disables the family financially and emotionally. Little Fighters steps in
to help create a support system in order for the children and their families to
maintain their dignity, and with it, provide hope.”
For Garth the initiative struck a
personal chord as his sister lost her battle with cancer, “Having watched what
she went through as an adult fighting this disease, I can only imagine how much
worse it is for children who are suffering from cancer, to fight this battle.
So, I figured, how bad can it be? Me, stepping into the ring and getting
punched around for kids who are fighting for their lives every single day. I
might as well see what I can do, if not through my singing, then by getting
into the ring and doing something more exciting, so that people and companies pledge
money and hopefully we can raise enough funds to help these little kids.”
Garth faced-off in an evenly contested match and the winner was - the Little Fighters.
The match for the
#YouPledgeIfight campaign may be over but fundraising initiatives continue with
the aim of raising R100 000 for the organisation.
I spoke to Mandie Erasmus from LFCT and Garth Taylor on my show Jozi
Today at Radio Today on 14 July. Listen to that interview here: JoziToday with Natashia
