Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels Raises R2.7 Million to Help Child Burn Survivors Heal in Honour of Youth Day

In the spirit of Youth Day, Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels pulled off something truly remarkable – raising an astonishing R2.7 million to support child burn survivors through the work of the Avela Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the physical and psychological healing of young burn survivors across South Africa.

During the station’s popular Breakfast with Martin Bester show, the team set out with a single goal: raise enough funds to replace a specialised laser machine at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg, a machine critical for the treatment of burn scars in children, which broke down in late 2024 and cannot be repaired. These state-of-the-art machines, used by trained plastic surgeons, play a vital role in restoring mobility and reducing trauma-related scarring and cost upwards of R1.4 million each.

As winter sets in and many South Africans turn to open flames, heaters, and boiling water to keep warm, accidents involving children become heartbreakingly common. The aftermath often includes devastating physical injuries, scarring, and emotional trauma. The Avela Foundation, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, exists to offer hope and healing to these young survivors – just as it did for the young girl, Avela, whose bravery inspired the organisation's creation.

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of Jacaranda FM’s listeners, the goal to raise funds for one new laser machine was met just before 8 a.m., with donations still pouring in. When the supplier offered to discount a second machine to R1.3 million, a new challenge was set. By the end of the show, R2.52 million had been raised and the next morning, Martin Bester announced that the final total had reached an incredible R2.7 million. This means two new laser machines will now be purchased for Avela, enabling the foundation to help up to 40 children every month on their journey to recovery.

“It’s hard to describe the emotion in the studio that morning - knowing that our listeners didn’t just show up, they showed up big,” Jacaranda FM’s Martin Bester shares. “This wasn’t just about buying a machine; it was about giving children their futures back. We started Youth Day celebrating the resilience of our young people, and ended it with the incredible knowledge that hundreds more will get the chance to heal. That’s what radio can do - it connects people and inspires miracles.”

Special thanks go to LottoStar, whose donation of R697,000 gave the team the push they needed to reach the first target with time to spare and inspired many others to keep going for the second machine. A heartfelt thank you also goes to the Machi Filotimo Cancer Project, whose donation not only supported the campaign, but also brought joy to young patients through a special toy distribution at the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.

This initiative marks yet another impactful Good Morning Angels moment and is a fitting tribute to the courage of burn survivors, the power of collective generosity, and the unwavering commitment of South Africans to uplift the next generation.