We were honoured to have Sunette van Zyl from CHOC House joining us at our recent prizegiving. She shared with us the remarkable work their organisation is doing for children battling cancer, and the important role CHOC House plays in offering support to both the children and their families during incredibly difficult times.

Thanks to the dedication of Wessel Mostert and the generosity of the Free State Nomads, we were able to allocate an amount of just under R90,000 to CHOC House. These funds are being used to upgrade the children’s play area and to replace much-needed linen in the house.

Sunette spoke passionately about how the play area had been one of her dreams for quite some time. Many of the children who are treated at Universitas Hospital, spend extended periods confined indoors during their treatment for cancer. As you can imagine, this can be incredibly frustrating for young children who naturally have energy to burn. The new play area will now provide a safe, supervised space for these brave youngsters to play, laugh, and be children again—if only for a moment.

In addition to caring for the children, CHOC House also provides accommodation for parents, offering them a home-like environment where they can stay close to their children during treatment. This support is especially critical for families who travel from far-flung areas and who may not have the means to afford long-term accommodation in the city.

To every member, sponsor, and friend who contributed to this project and the Andrew Mentis fundraising efforts, thank you. Your involvement is helping to put a smile on a child’s face during one of the most challenging journeys they’ll ever face.

Your kindness, quite literally, makes a world of difference.

Thanks to Lincon Construction and fellow Nomads Gary Lindeque, Barney Lindeque and Ralph Olivier for upgrading the play area.