Michael Naicker
michael
Good day Cuzzins
Doctor’s orders today are “Laugh, laugh and laugh some more!” Stop what you’re doing and think about something that you love doing – just for 5 minutes. Do this every day for the rest of your life and you’re sure to be contented and healthy....well at least happier than the poor bastard having a disciplinary down the passage. Close your eyes, lean back in your crappy swivel chair and smile. Your boss will be the moer-in but you’ll be ‘appy!

Cycling for charity
Wanna see me in a tutu? I will be riding the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge this year. We are trying to raise money for the Sunflower Fund (The Sunflower Fund is a non-profit organisation dedicated to recruiting bone marrow stem cell donors of all ethnic groups to help young patients diagnosed with leukaemia and other life threatening blood disorders who are in need of a bone marrow stem cell transplant.) I shall be riding in full LiveStrong colours to show my support for cancer patients and their families. “Why the tutu?” you ask. Well, if we get more den R10,000 (dat’s “100 clips” for cuzzies) den I have to wear a tutu....ja right! Show me da money first! To make a donation, drop your dollars into dis account:

THE SUNFLOWER FUND
ABSA Account: 4051 834 719
Branch: 632 005
REFERENCE: GTNG/947/KPerkins
 
A MOTHER DOES 59 MILES4MARROW for 94.7

Jason Stone – Sue’s 17 year old sonSue Stone is no ordinary mother.  She hails from a farm in Zimbabwe and her 17 year old son Jason (one of three children) was diagnosed with leukaemia in the beginning of this year.  She has spent most of 2009 away from her husband and two other children so that Jason could undergo chemotherapy in Johannesburg.  It became apparent that Jason would need a bone marrow stem cell transplant and so his brother and sister were tested as potential matches.  Remarkably both siblings are perfect matches and so Jason’s transplant is due to take place just before Christmas. 

Sue said that in the weeks that she waited for the results she felt the fear of not knowing if they had a sibling match or whether they were going to have to search the South African Bone Marrow Registry for their life saving match.  In that moment she realised just how blessed her family was and she became determined to make a difference in the lives of children who were not as fortunate.  Despite the long separations from family this year she sent Jason home to be with his Dad and brother and sister before the transplant but Sue stayed on in South Africa to train and cycle the 94.7 to raise funds for The Sunflower Fund so that more donors can be placed on the Registry.  She is no professional cyclist but is determined to fulfill this mission of hers.  She doesn’t have the contacts to get sponsored but she has a huge heart, and an ability to care for those not as fortunate as her family despite what lies ahead for Jason in the next few months. 

Sue recently took the opportunity to meet three year old Tabo Chibafa who is undergoing chemotherapy and also needs a transplant.  Currently there is no match for young Tabo on the Registry.  When Sue met with the family it transpired that she had been senior prefect at the same school as Tabo’s mother in Zimbabwe!   The Club 100 cyclists from MTN were motivated by Sue so much that there is now a group of about 30 cyclists fundraising for The Sunflower Fund and most of them will be cycling in yellow tutu’s on Sunday to keep an eye out for them if you are on route!! 

If you would like any further information please contact Tricia Hobson on (011) 4694513 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Should you like to make a donation towards Sue’s efforts please deposit your donation:
The Sunflower Fund
ABSA Account: 4051 834 719
Branch: 632 005

REFERENCE: GTNG/947/Sue

Sue with young Tabo who needs a donor. Sue Stone (left to right) Sue Stone, with Johan Rothner, Angie Cinnamon, Paddy Ovens & Michelle Gebhardt from Club 100

 
The Miles4Marrow Campaign 2009 - one week to go!
resting_lightboxResting up before they put their best foot forward for The Sunflower Fund's
2009 Miles4Marrow Campaign by running the Comrades Marathon on Sunday, 24th May are runners (back) Gill Straker and Grant Cummings with Nicole Browne and Barbara Codner in front. Pick n Pay's Nolan Logan has showed his support by adding R5600 to the R45 000 already raised. The fundraising target for the campaign is R100 000.
 
Putting their best foot forward for the fund…

Thousands of runners will be hitting the road on Sunday, 24th May to run 89kms from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. These people clearly have passion, determination and a zest of life which is why they were targeted to raise awareness and money for The Sunflower Fund through the 2009 Miles4Marrow campaign.

So far 25 runners have committed to finding corporates and individuals to sponsor them per mile (56 miles in total) and this money will be donated to The Sunflower Fund to continue their work of building the South African Bone Marrow Registry in turn giving hope to children with leukaemia.

If you would like to support a runner please make your donation into The Sunflower Fund bank account and make sure you reference your deposit with the chosen runner’s name so that it can be added to their total amount raised. A prize will be given to the winning runner so help them as they put their best foot forward to help us.

Bank Account Name:    The Sunflower Fund
Bank: ABSA Bank
Account No.: 4051834719
Branch: Tokai
Branch Code: 632005
Reference: (runner’s name) KZN

For more information on the campaign contact Tenley Cummings on 083 654 5229.
 
Miles4Marrow Participants
mary-anne_lightbox Mary-Anne Nieuwoudt – I have been running for about five years, I completed my first Comrades Marathons last year and ran a Bill Rowan. This year I am running for The 2009 Miles4Marrow campaign in the hope not only to improve my Comrade’s time but save a child or young adult in need of a bone marrow stem cell transplant.
Fundraising form 01.
peter-bentley_lightbox Peter Bentley – I have been running for ten years and this will be my 10th Comrades. I have eight bronze medals and one Bill Rowan. This year I would like to run a ‘Billy’ again, if possible. I would like to raise as much as possible to help a good cause like The Sunflower Fund through their 2009 Miles4Marrow campaign. It is all about getting to the finish line that counts.
Fundraising form 02.
sean-de-groot_lightbox Sean de Groot – I have been running for 18 years, I have completed ten Comrades Marathons, all bronze medals. At this stage, with the body getting larger and outside pressures not leaving too much time for training, I'm not sure whether I'll be trudging between PMB and Durban this year. The 2009 Miles4Marrow campaign certainly does keep the window open. Somebody tempt me with a very lucrative reason to finish…
Fundraising form 03.
justin-apsey_lightbox Justin Apsey - Been running for most my life...but never crazy distances. This is my first Comrades and while I hate eating baby marrows I am 100% committed to raising cash in the 2009 Miles4Marrow campaign.
Fundraising form 04.
kevin-rom_lightbox Kevin Rom - This is my second year of running, having completed my first comrades last year in 10h58. This year I plan to try and chase my wife down to Durban in under 10h30. I hope to not only raise money for The Sunflower fund but also raise awareness. Donors on the registry is probably worth more than Rands in the bank.
Fundraising form 05.
alan-sleath_lightbox Alan Sleath - I am hoping to raise money for the 2009 Miles4Marrow campaign while achieving three personal incentives...my 10th Comrades and green number, my 9th Silver and thirdly to beat my personal best of 6hrs33min.
Fundraising form 06.
craig-vivian_lightbox Craig Vivian - I’m a first time runner of the Comrades Marathon. Notable running achievements include 2 Two Oceans 56 Km Ultra Marathons and the Mont-Aux-Sources 50 Km Challenge. My aim is to raise as much money as possible for The Sunflower Fund through the 2009 Miles4Marrow campaign while completing my first Comrades Marathon. I look forward to both challenges.
Fundraising form 07.
jenny-tyers_lightbox Jenny Tyers - I have been running for 10 years and will be running my tenth Comrades this year. So far I have managed to run 8 Bill Rowans in a row and will be trying to keep this trend to end my tally on one Bronze (first Comrades) and the rest Bill Rowans.  My best time is 08h16m which I would love to improve on.  I hope to collect a lot of money for The Sunflower Fund so that more children can have a chance to enjoy living life!
Fundraising form 08.
nicola-centner_lightbox Nicola Centner – Although I live in Hillcrest and run with the local Hillcrest crowd, I have run for Westville Athletic Club for six years now. This year I will be participating in my 6th Two Oceans Marathon and 4th Comrades Marathon! I am thrilled to be involved in the 2009 Miles4Marrow campaign and look forward to raising money and awareness for The Sunflower Fund.
Fundraising form 09
grant-cummings_lightbox Grant Cummings - Having taken a five year break from the road after 25 years of competitive running, what better reason to put down the TV remote and shake off the tag of “armchair sportsman” then the opportunity to raise funds for a fantastic organisation like The Sunflower Fund, thereby giving a child suffering with leukaemia, hope. Coupled with the prospect of competing in “the ultimate human race”– the Comrades Marathon – for the first time, has made it an irresistible personal challenge for me.
Fundraising form 10
brian-vermaak_lightbox Brian Vermaak - How very blessed I am to be able to contribute to an awesome cause. A cancer sufferer myself and having been through the trauma, I can think of nothing better than to help others in need. I started running in the '80s and ran one Comrades. To me the fact that I can just go out there and run is a blessing which I cherish each and every day.
Fundraising form 12
shaun-curtin_lightbox Shaun Curtin – My mate, Rowan Short, convinced me in October last year to attempt the 2009 Comrades Marathon with him. I obliged and we started our training soon after. Having never been a runner before, this will be my first attempt at the Comrades Marathon. I therefore regard myself as a complete novice! I am training hard and look forward to the challenge of finishing and at the same time contributing in my own way to the 2009 Miles4Marrow campaign. Please show your support for me and sponsor me for every mile I do on the day for this charitable cause.
Fundraising form 15
mark-lyle_lightbox Mark Lyle - Comrades had always been a life long dream and having completed my first race in 2008, I am ready to make the race about more than just finishing. My wife's family has had personal experience with a bone marrow stem cell transplant so I am excited to contribute as much as possible to the Miles4Marrow campaign and help to give hope to leukaemia sufferers through the work of The Sunflower Fund.
Fundraising form 16
rowan-short_ligthbox Rowan Short - I completed Comrades in 97' & 98' as well as Two Oceans in 98'. After eleven years on the sidelines, have now decided, along with a friend that its time to start again. Every year without fail, we end up supporting the runners on Comrades day, telling each other that next year it will be us doing the running, and every year we find an excuse not to run. Well, this year we ran out of excuses! We are really looking forward to supporting The Sunflower Fund. Not only will it be a sense of achievement for us in running and completing the Comrades, but knowing that we may have helped kids who are less fortunate that us will be even more fulfilling.
Fundraising form 18
bruce-gore_lightbox Bruce Gore - Having grown up in KZN the Comrades Marathon always held a great challenge for me to attempt. Ten years ago I ran my first “down” run and followed this with an “up” - that was where it was meant to stop. Needless to say last year I ran my tenth and am delighted to be involved in a very worthy fundraiser for this year’s run. An already incredible day will now have extra special meaning and purpose and I can not wait to get to the start line.
Fundraising form 19
paul-venter_lightbox Paul Venter - The Comrades marathon has been a part of my life since the early 1970's when my physically handicapped uncle and I used to sit glued to the radio listening to the race on the old Radio Port Natal. As Uncle Peter could not run it, urged me to run the race for him one day. In 1985 I ran my first and eventually attained 12 bronze medals. The race has brought such happiness to my life and I relish the opportunity of giving back to it by raising money for this vitally important cause. My wife's niece contracted Leukemia as a 16 year old in 2006 and she received a successful bone marrow transplant so I am personally aware of the incredible role played by The Sunflower Fund.
Fundraising form 20
justin-frost_lightbox Justin Frost – As a social runner for many years, last year I decided to set my sights on some long distance running and after my first marathon, Two Oceans Ultra Marathon and then Comrades, I’m ready to give the Comrades down run of 2009 a go and hopefully better my time from last year. More importantly I’ve decided to run for The Sunflower Fund’s Miles4Marrow campaign and in doing so, will hopefully raise plenty of awareness and funds for this very worthy cause. With your help and generosity, this fantastic campaign can raise the money needed to register bone marrow stem cell donors.
Fundraising form 21
barbara-codner_lightbox Barbara Codner - I am a member of Hillcrest Villagers and have completed three Two Oceans Marathons, two Comrades Marathons and numerous others. I will be running my third Comrades Marathon this year and whilst I find the distance to be a personal challenge, I am hoping that this year, running for the Miles4Marrow will inspire and challenge me every step of the way making it all worthwhile.
Fundraising form 22
gill-straker_lightbox Gill Straker - I started running as an overweight 21 year old. I got fit, lost weight and the running bug was caught! I could not get my head around running 89km’s in those days. I run for the sheer pleasure and joy it gives me, not to mention the amazing friendships that keep life interesting and amusing – so many hilarious running stories for when I’m “old”. Running has helped me through some BAD times and kept me sane. This is my fourth Comrades for Hillcrest Villagers and I’ve just run my first 2 Oceans which was an experience of a lifetime! I can’t believe I’ve not thought of running for a cause such as The Sunflower Fund before. My mum had cancer and it is a disease that can and has to be cured for good, so I hope I can help.
Fundraising form 23