Date Added : 1st March 2010
Kingswood helped to make the dream of a young boy come true last weekend. Through the Reach for a Dream organisation, Kingswood Sports Director Graham Carlson became aware of Zhaun-Pierre van der Westhuizen, a type 1 diabetic from Knysna who had a dream to meet Brian Habana. Carlson, assisted by Kingswood staff, parents and pupils from the Interact Club set about trying to make Zhaun-Pierre’s dream come true by collecting funds towards the trip, and the school made a vehicle available for Carlson to drive Zhaun-Pierre and his mother down to Cape Town for the dream experience – the Stormers game and a meeting with Brian Habana. Cathy Braans helped significantly with the arrangements.
Zhaun-Pierre is not only a huge Brian Habana fan, but also an avid Stormers supporter and he was thrilled to received a goodie bag with a flag, a t-shirt and a poster that had been left at the hotel where he was staying by Chris McEwen, the Marketing Manager at Western Province Rugby. Once at the stadium, McEwen met Zhaun-Pierre and escorted him through the ‘players/officials only area’, onto the side of the field where we watched the two teams running through their warm ups, before taking him to his seat right next to the player’s tunnel for a grand view of a superb game of rugby, during which Brian Habana scored two exciting tries.
After the match, he was again escorted down the tunnel and taken to the players changing room where Western Province and former Springbok coach, Alistair Coetzee stopped to chat, and he watched Bob Skinstad doing the post match interviews with players and coaches. After that, it was into the changing rooms where Zhaun-Pierre met the players, got their autographs and had photos taken with Brian Habana, who was delighted to meet his young fan, and to help make his dream come true.
Zhaun-Pierre travelled home in a Stormers rugby jersey and cap, after memorable weekend. Carlson said, “Thanks to everyone who helped to make Zhaun-Pierre’s trip possible – he’s a delightful young boy who will remember the meeting with his hero for a long time to come. The kids at Kingswood were so pleased to help, it felt as if they were all having a dream come true.”
The Reach for a Dream organisation fulfils the dreams of children between the ages of 3 and 18 who have been diagnosed as having a life-threatening illness.
Graham Carlson (left) with Bryan Habana (right) and Zhaun-Pierre (centre).
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