By Dave Abrahams
The atmosphere was electric as nearly 50 motorcycles of all shapes and sizes rumbled into the grounds of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Rondebosch, Cape Town at the climax of the SA Navy Fleet Motorcylists Association’s second annual Red Cross Charity Ride – better known as the ‘Santa Run’.
There were faces - mostly children’s faces - at every window, staff and patients milling about at the entrance, goggling at the shiny machines, barking and spitting as their riders cheerfully revved their engines to park them in neat rows. And, judging by the huge smiles all round, it would seem the traditional ‘Quiet – Hospital’ signs were somewhat outdated
PUTTING THEIR BIKES WHERE THEIR MOUTHS WERE
Within moments of their arrival the Navy bikers had filled three trolleys with gifts for the young patients in the wards, from cuddly toys for the comfort only a child can understand, to jigsaws, puzzles and games to keep bright young minds occupied while their bodies heal.
Captain Roger Steven-Jennings of Simonsberg Naval Base in Simon’s Town thanked the riders for their time and their generosity, and formally handed over the toys to the hospital’s operations manager, Janine Heuvel, who pointed out that, even more than the gifts, the young patients at the hospital valued the fact that they’d brought the gifts themselves rather than sending them.
THE BEST GIFT OF ALL
For a child far from home, whose parents could not visit regularly, the friendly face of somebody who cared enough to be there, was the best gift of all, she said.
So, while some of the bikers gave the braver young patients - and a few excited staff members - rides around the hospital grounds, many visited the wards to spend a few special moments with the kids whose faces they’d seen at the windows when they rode in.