A Parow woman is calling on the public to help her keep a children’s radio station on air by donating to her crowdfunding campaign.
Johandie de Kock is one of 13 runners who took part in the 53rd Two Oceans ultra and half marathon this past weekend in support of RX Radio, an award-winning radio station produced by and for children at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. It is one of the first radio stations in the world to have children broadcasting from within a hospital.
To date, 135 children, aged 4 to 18, have been trained as junior reporters at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Paarl Hospital and Brooklyn Chest Hospital.
In November last year, the radio station launched the #SaveRXRadio campaign to raise money for its operational costs, but the station still faces closure, according to Chelsey Daniels, RX Radio junior project officer.
“The efforts seemed to have caught the eye of Johandie de Kock, an accountant from Parow, who felt inspired to help and save children’s voices by participating in the Two Oceans Marathon,” Ms Daniels said.
Ms De Kock created the #KeepRXRadioOnAir BackaBuddy campaign after seeing an Instagram post by the radio station announcing the #SaveRXRadio campaign.
She said she felt drawn to RX Radio and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital as she had battled Crohn’s disease.
The avid runner has been running the 21km half marathon since 2010. She received her blue permanent number last year, securing her entry, and plans to run the race in support of RX Radio annually.
“It was an honour to run my first race as a blue number in support of RX Radio. Giving back to younger people and communities means a lot to me,” she said.
Despite having problems with her hamstring and sinuses in the lead up to the race Ms De Kock completed the run in 1 hour 56 minutes and 38 seconds.
“It is always special to sing the national anthem at the start of the race. It makes one feel proud of being a runner for our country. The supporters along the route are also very special.
“When your feet touch the grass at UCT upper campus and you see the finish line coming closer, it is always a highlight.”
Ms Daniels said RX Radio needed to raise R650 000 to R700 000 by the end of April to stay on air for the next six months otherwise the station would need to stop programmes and allow gradual closure in May.
“While the event might have passed, our runners are all still aiming to raise R250 000, but since our budget is R1.8 million we would need a total of R700 000 for us to complete the year.”
Ms de Kock said that although her BackaBuddy profile was set at R250 000, she would like to raise the full R1.8 million needed to cover the radio station’s expenses.
Donations can be made at rxradio.co.za or through Ms De Kock’s BackaBuddy account.