All pupils from Grade 0 to Grade 12 celebrated bandana day by purchasing and wearing colourful bandanas. Teachers and staff also joined in, many of whom bought more than one bandana.

In total the school raised over R8000. One of the pupils at The King’s school is currently undergoing Chemotherapy and although he will not need a bone marrow transplant, many people were spurred on to buy bandanas in support of him.

It was an awesome day and everyone agreed that it would be worth doing again next year!!!!

In support of The Sunflower Fund National Bandana Day 2007 on 21st September, Pick n Pays countrywide sold sunflower bandanas in ten different colours for R15 each in order to raise funds and awareness essential to sustain the work of the Sunflower Fund.

Picture: Simba the Lion and his entourage were at Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World on Sunday, 16th September to ‘meet and greet’ all Sunflower Fund supporters, and Simba also performed on stage at the SUNCOAST SUNdeck in celebration of The Sunflower Fund National Bandana Day.

To promote the campaign, Pick n Pay hosted a Fun Day at Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World on Sunday, 16th September between 10am and 4pm consisting of a Miss Bandana Day competition, a fashion show, giant swings, a foam bath and slide, Josephine and the Giggles Show, face-painting, stilt walking including balloon sculpting, jumping castles, Simba the Lion and Choice sampling.

Hi Fly Kites have manufactured a special kite incorporating 5m of The Sunflower Fund Bandana Fabric in celebration of National Bandana Day on Friday, 21st September.

Hi Fly Kites, based in the Natal Midlands, is celebrating its 20th Birthday this year and is the largest distributor of kites and wind toys in South Africa. They cater for all ages from easy to fly single line kites for kids, dual line stunt kites and power kites for the more adventurous. A percentage of every kite sold at SUNCOAST on the 15th and 16th September will go to The Sunflower Fund.

Picture: Meanie is wearing a 5m sunflower bandana in celebration of The Sunflower Fund National Bandana Day. He will be flown on the SUNdeck on Saturday, 15th and Sunday 16th September at Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World. Come and see The Sunflower Fund Bandana Day mascot in action.

BIGGEST SUNFLOWER FUND NATIONAL BANDANA DAY YET – 21 SEPTEMBER 2007

September 21 sees the fifth Sunflower Fund National Bandana day, and this year the bandanas are much bigger, softer and in a feast of nine summer colours plus the original sunflower design, with the aim of selling 50 000 more than last year!

Since The Sunflower Fund National Bandana Day’s inception in 2003 there has been a generic black, white and yellow bandana and over the years a collection of other designs have accompanied the generic bandana as “surprise bandanas”. The “surprise bandanas” have always followed fashion trends and as such have been a sought after fashion accessory and serve well as a collector’s item as no colour or design is ever repeated. This year’s “surprise bandana” is no different.

The theme for the campaign launching in Pick ‘n Pay stores on August 21 is “Ambassadors of Hope”. South African celebrities have come together to support the campaign, and the focus will be on the success of survivors – those whose lives have been saved by bone marrow stem cell transplants. Schools will be having civvies days in support of the Fund, and corporates are encouraged to host team challenges to sell bandanas – with a survivor theme. Mark Bayly, host of the television show Survivor, is one of the Sunflower Fund “Ambassadors of Hope”, and Baby Jake another, in an effort to recruit much-needed male donors. Donors need to be between 18-50 years of age and in good health. The harsh reality is that 75% of sufferers of leukemia are under the age of 25 years.

Just prior to National Bandana Day, The Sunflower Fund will host edutainment events in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. So join in the fun and learn more about this worthy cause.

The Sunflower Fund aims to educate and recruit well informed potential bone marrow stem cell donors that are ethnically diverse in an effort to save the lives of those needing a transplant when suffering from life-threatening blood disorders.

For more information on the Sunflower Fund call tollfree:  0800 12 10 82