SEAN HYLAND, master of the container ship SA Sederberg, was more than a little surprised when he heard that a cash donation by his crew and passengers would be benefiting the only children's hospital south of Cairo.
That was the word from community fund raiser Lisa Dawson-Biggs when she accepted a cheque for $2 500 from Captain Hyland on behalf of Cape Town's Red Cross Children's Hospital. She added: We give the best care available to all children in South Africa and beyond.
Captain Hyland told FTW: Given that Red Cross Children's Hospital is the only one of its kind south of Cairo shows what a state the rest of Africa is in.
The SA Sederberg is something of a democratic institution in that officers and ratings all had a vote as to how the money, raised by way of collections at the bar, quizzes and the like, would be utilised.
They agreed that a hospital should be the beneficiary and that funds raised be used to buy surgical equipment rather than support upkeep of buildings. (Safmarine does in any event support building maintenance at Red Cross Children's Hospital).
The SA Sederberg also donated $500 towards Simon's Town School which has a maritime studies department for grades 10-12, preparing pupils for careers at sea or on land.
By Ray Smuts
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