MDF Magazine Newsletter Issue 60 December 2019

Events
The Muscular Dystrophy Foundation’s KZN Branch sets an
annual budget to commemorate Muscular Dystrophy Awareness
Month, held annually during September. This year the branch was
approached by the Sath Guru Samajim Ashram – a Hindu temple in
Montford, Chatsworth – to host the start of the awareness month at
their temple premises.
As 1 September 2019 fell on a Sunday, the day when the Sath Guru
Samajim Ashram have their weekly service and discourses, the
Ashram’s spiritual head, Guru Sagren Moodley, invited the branch
to hold the launch of the awareness campaign on site so that the
entire congregation could become aware of the condition and pass
on the information pamphlets to friends and relatives.
MDF KZN volunteers together with young members of the Sath
Guru Samajim Youth planned the event within a few days.
The day fi nally arrived, a beautiful sunny morning, and MDF volunteers
and executive committee members started setting up whilst the prayer service was in progress. The media
was also invited for the event. During the discourse session, MDF KZN executive committee member, Dr Pam
Rapiti, gave a very interesting talk on muscular dystrophy, focusing on the types of dystrophy and the medical
aspects, the challenges faced by patients and parents, and how the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation of South
Africa fi ts in as support.
MDF chairperson, Noel Pillay, and treasurer, Raj Mahadaw, were on hand to answer questions related to the
KZN Branch, donors, funding and the need for volunteers on an ongoing basis.
After the discourse session the congregation, including patients and parents, exited the main auditorium to
be met with the sight of green balloons and large wall banners with a collage of photographs of equipment
handovers, previous year-end events, and volunteers. The MDF KZN Branch gazebo, being the main
communication point, was the main attraction and provided a slide presentation with videos and photos of
previous branch events. Goody bags with free MDF bottled water, awareness pamphlets, deodorants,
shampoos and soaps sponsored for the branch were also handed out to the congregation in appreciation of
their presence and support to the KZN Branch. Casual Day and MDF KZN “My support means hope” stickers
were sold, and MDF KZN donation tins were also available for people to donate cash.
At 11h30 it was time to hand out the green helium-fi lled balloons, and each person in the congregation was
handed a balloon. At 11h45 Guru Sagren Moodley said a prayer in memory of all our patients who had passed
on, and the balloons were released together on the count of three by Raj Mahadaw. The chairperson, Noel
Pillay, thanked the congregation for their support and invited everyone to the dining area for a vegetarian lunch
and refreshments provided.
The feedback that the branch received from
the congregation was interesting and some
mentioned that they would like to see us again
next year.
A total of 300 Casual Day stickers were sold at
the awareness campaign launch.
The event was reported in the community
newspaper Rising Sun and the national
newspaper Post the following week.
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