After their bus driver was hijacked and the bus stripped, the Ann Harding Cheshire Home was able to pool together funding for a new one, but they are just shy of the final number needed to buy the bus.
Randburg, South Africa (10 May 2022) – The Ann Harding Cheshire Home is raising funds to cover the shortfall for a replacement bus. They have raised just under R1-million to purchase the new bus and need the public’s help to make their target.
The home’s residential bus was hijacked last year and stripped. Thankfully, the insurance company paid out a sum, and through the collaboration of various financial contributions, they are so close to the final funding goal. Jackie Kyle, the Fundraising Manager for the homes, shared the story of what happened to the bus.
“As you may know, last year one of our busses, used to transport Residents, was hijacked. The driver was put into the back and held at gunpoint while they drove to Soweto in the bus. Once there, they dropped our driver off at a mine dump (thankfully unharmed), and left with the bus. We did manage to find the bus, thanks to a person reporting it being parked outside their home, but unfortunately, it had been badly damaged and the entire dash had been stripped while searching for the tracking device.”
Insurance, the Department of Social Development, an import duty rebate and input VAT meant they raised a decent nest egg for a new bus. The team set their hearts on the VW Crafter 50 2.0 TDI 103kW, priced at R1,050,373.94, which includes the wheelchair conversion and the hoist, but after calculations including a service plan, the bill came to R90,000 more than they had in pocket.
“Since our vehicle was hijacked, we have been coping with one bus, but we have been in lockdown for the majority of this time, so residents were not going out, unless for emergencies, or medical appointments. Now that they are going out regularly again, we are finding it very difficult to cope with one bus, which holds a maximum of 6 wheelchairs at a time, and forty Residents. There are also times when we have outings where a number of residents want to go, and we are limited to 6 in wheelchairs.
A second bus is therefore vital to our Residents, and their freedom and ability to live normal lives. We would very much appreciate any assistance you can give us in trying to raise this R90 000. If you are not able to help, perhaps you could pass this request on to contacts you may have?. The sooner we are able to purchase this bus, the sooner our residents’ lives will be easier.”
The hope is to fund the shortfall publically. If you would like to support this cause, you can do so using the details below.
How to get involved?
You can make a direct donation towards the bus using the listed banking details below.
Ann Harding Cheshire Home
Bank: FNB Cheque Account
Account no: 50410145574
Branch code: 255355
Swift code: FIRNZAJJ
Ref: name and ‘bus.’
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