Saturday 19^th June started out the same as many other Saturdays where I have a Honey related function to attend to. This one was always going to be a bit different, but only during the course of the day did I discover just HOW different it would be.

One of my Consultants who also sells Annique products and I, decided to do a joint function ladies day event. We wanted to mainly grow our customer base, but also to raise funds for our charity of choice in Port Elizabeth, “All Hands on Dec Friends.” We also invited Charmaine, another Honey consultant, who sells educational toys, Toys 4 you as a sideline to make a donation to our Charity so that she could set up a table with her products.

 Lee-Ann, Area Manager Honey PE, with Angel Dec

Our function was advertised on radio and in the free press that is distributed and we also sent out dozens of emails to existing clients to attract them. We offered refreshments, lucky discount vouchers and attendance prizes to be won!  The ticket price of this event was donated to our fund! Alas, the response was relatively poor, but the jumping castles and kiddies’ table were a great success with all the kiddies that arrived.

Our Sponsors

One little child in particular had centre stage. Blake Hutton, a two year old who has had both eyes removed because of cancer and for whom the funds being donated to “All Hands on Dec” were going to be used. Candice, Lawrence and their 3 children, Elgin, Tamara and Blake came and spent the day with us and instead of just hearing about this family and all the problems they have overcome, we were able to meet them and count our own blessings in a very real and tangible way. My two sons got to hear first hand, what cancer had done to this little boy and his family and they learnt a lesson I would struggle to teach them. All the adults there watched in awe as Candice either carried or followed or protected this very active inquisitive little 2 year-old as he negotiated his way around the venue. His sense of direction and space was phenomenal to watch, but although his skills impacted us, we were all left stunned at seeing first hand what a fight against cancer in children actually entails.

I and all the other adults present have been humbled by what this family has sacrificed to gain a future for their son. They sold their car and stove for cash for medical bills. They spent 18 months without hot water; they go without food when they have to. All Hands on Dec has stepped in to keep this family afloat and has so far been able to replace their stove and geyser, and provides them with food vouchers, and payment of medical bills.  However, they are facing a bill of R20, 901 for 2 artificial eyes.  If he does not receive the eyes, the structure of his still growing face will collapse and he will spend his life even further disadvantaged than just being blind.  This is one of the charities that our region decided to support.

 Gifts handed to the kids

“All Hands on Dec Friends” is run by Declan’s granny Wendy Baird in the Port Elizabeth area and she has limited support as they are a new organisation.  Having met the family they are currently helping, has made me realise just how important it is to give back to our community and that we never count our blessings as often as we should.  I am determined that we will raise the funds needed for Blake’s operation – the deadline is 15 July as the specialist who will do the procedure will be here on 19^th July.

We raised an amount of R2973 with just a handful of clients on Saturday. Imagine what we can do with every member of our team standing up to be counted. I am very privileged to have worked closely with Debbie, Lynette and Jana from Annique. What a great opportunity we have for more than one direct selling company to get behind each other to reach the same dreams and goals.  We bonded around tea and muffins, while Lynette from Annique did mini facials and Debbie and myself were introduced to this family by Wendy and we took some quality time to get to know them and they really need love and care! We presented the children with some gifts from “Toys 4 you”.

Thank you Blake for touching our lives in such a special way and may we be able to touch your life in return.

With the great Soccer incentive Honey has put together for us, we the Eastern Cape Region will be able to contribute to little Blake’s life.

Regards, Lee-Ann Evans-Riche

Team Leader Honey Fashion Accessories