Jane's Toy Story

Toy Story hand out day is one of the happiest and most soul destroying days of my year.

The night before I was still tossing around at 2am, anxiously waiting for it to get light.

It is never easy seeing a child in such a state and even worse when the chair next to the bed is empty.

Having done the drop off many times before, I had prepared myself ahead of time but still had to find an empty hallway to sob my eyes out away from their little twinkly eyes as I handed them a brand new toy.

The oncology and burn wards are always the hardest.

Melissa and Doug softened the blow by donating R20 000 worth of the most exquisite wooden toys.

Thank you to you if you donated a new toy and showed 'our' precious children that we love and care.

This little chap (pictured above) was inconsolable when we arrived and during our time together was gently cared for - from hug to loving embrace. The mom in me picked him up and started to sway.

This day my heart breaks and rejoices in a single moment.

- Jane

East Coast Radio presenters Darren Maule, Jane Linley-Thomas, Damon Beard, Lebo Masike and Trevor Williams helped distribute toys to children in paediatric wards at King George VIII Hospital. St Aidens Hopsital, Albert Luthuli Hospital, Wentworth Hospital and Clairwood Hospital.

Thanks to your generosity, since the Toy Story campaign was launched at the end of October, we've so far collected over 30 000 toys to distribute to children in hospitals, homes and orphanages in KZN. We’ve also received R1.2-million in cash, which has been used to put together food parcels that will help children during the December holidays when they will not have access to school meals. 

East Coast Radio’s Toy Story with Game wraps up on Wednesday, 18 December 2013 with the Toy Story Cavalcade. This will see us visiting Addington, King Edward, RK Khan and Prince Mshiyeni Hospitals.