Muizenberg scout raises funds and donates toys for children in palliative care

Keanan Harmse

A young girl from Muizenberg is collecting toys, books and toiletries for children with life-threatening illnesses and hopes the community can join her cause.

Ten-year-old Faith Morris is a Cub from the 1st Muizenberg Sea Scout Group, and is working on her Leaping Wolf Advancement, which is the highest advancement that can be achieved at cub-programme level, her mom Stefanie Morris said.

Previously, People’s Post reported that a Muizenberg young scout from Marina Da Gama, Dominic Nicholas (17), was hard at work cleaning and maintaining 15 gravesites at Dido Valley Cemetery in the hope of achieving his Springbok Scout badge (“Muizenberg Scouts honour veterans”, People’s Post, 29 April).

Morris said: “As part of her Global Awareness Challenge for Leaping Wolf, Cub Faith visited Paedspal on Tuesday 29 April to deliver a collection of donations, including toys and books she had been gathering throughout the term. It’s a cause close to Faith’s heart and she truly went above and beyond.”

Paedspal is a Cape Town-based paediatric palliative-care service that was established in 2015.

It provides specialist palliative care for children and their families in the Western Cape. They see children both in public and private hospitals and children’s homes.

When she’s not out raising funds for children in need, Faith is drawing, dancing, involved in drama and the Cub Scouts.

“I first got involved when I was seven. I had to take a break due to my health. But I joined again when I was nine.

“I joined because my siblings were involved and they always told such fun stories and looked as if they had lots of fun. I wanted to help Paedspal because it is a charity that helped me with my own health issues. It helps children with many different illnesses.”

Paedspal is a palliative-care charity based in Rondebosch that supports children with chronic health conditions and their families, including Faith, who herself has chronic health conditions, and her family.

Her initial goal was to raise R1 000 for the centre. “However, I discovered I raised more, R1 500, and collected three bags of toys and toiletries to donate.”

Morris related: “Faith wanted to give back to Paedspal as a thank you for the support she receives and because it is a worthwhile charity that does amazing work with children and families travelling difficult health journeys. I am so proud of her, watching her at Cubs is a very freeing experience, knowing how difficult her personal health struggles are. It’s beautiful to see her come into herself, learn to have fun and make friends in such a positive environment.”

Faith also handcrafted bracelets and slime that she is selling to raise funds, and all the proceeds are going to Paedspal.

Morris also thanked Faith’s fellow Cubs who assisted Faith with selling some of the items. “Faith collected much-needed items and raised R1 500 by selling handmade bracelets and slime. While visiting, Fiona McLellan from the Paedspal team invited Faith and fellow Cub Peyton Hendricks to help pack the donated goods into care packages, a task jumped into with enthusiasm and care.”

Faith said she was overjoyed at assisting the children and parents who struggle to meet the costs of their care.

“My fundraiser made me feel proud moms and children stuck in hospital with life-limiting conditions will have toiletries they need for long hospital stays. The greatest reward for me personally is being able to complete my Leaping Wolf Cub Advancement. Helping Paedspal was what I chose to do to help me complete the ‘personal challenge’ of the advancement.”

Paedspal for comment but they could not respond before the time of publication.

. For details or to contribute contact Fiona McLellan at 076 285 6508 or visit https://paedspal.org.za.