Enjoying a FUNdraiser for KAWS

KNYSNA NEWS - Despite being a chilly evening with some light rain, Knysna locals flocked to Blend Country Restaurant for the sold-out 'KAWS 80s Night - A FUN(d)raiser', on Saturday 3 June, for a night filled with dancing, 80s hits, fantastic food, prizes and much more.

Hosted by Dominic and Lucy Morel of Better Live Events and Blend Country Restaurant, the primary goal of the evening was to raise much-needed funds for the Knysna Animal Welfare Society (Kaws), with a specific focus on a planned solar installation for the kennels.

"We are using this money to put towards a solar system and need to raise at least R150 000 to get the system required to run all of our essential equipment," says Kaws Kennel Manager Belinda Speed.

"Our generator is so loud that it affects the animals in the adoption centre, as well as the theatre patients waking up from anaesthetic. Our lights also flicker which makes surgeries challenging and our freezers start to defrost and given what these freezers store, the thawing contents could become a major health hazard. Our vet has even had to perform a late-night emergency surgery under the light of a mobile phone."

Kaws is also spending thousands of rands on fuel each month, and given that load-shedding is likely here to stay, the current way of functioning during a power cut is simply not sustainable.

A jam-packed Blend Country Restaurant enjoyed hits of the 80s and even some karaoke.

But the good news is that the evening of fundraising has gotten the welfare organisation past the halfway mark.

With Better Live's ticket sales contribution of R19 216,74, various raffles and a 'Solar-Drive', the evening raised a whopping R 87 586,74 with the support of local individuals and businesses alike.

Notable contributors of prizes, support and donations were Dream Knysna Property Sales & Marketing, Hamilton Properties, Simola Hotel & Spa and Action Ads.

Local DJ Frikkie Burger (Feel Good Inc.) had partygoers up on their feet from the first minute, and well into the night.

Dominic Morel adds: "This was such a successful and fun event, we are already planning more regular seasonal fundraisers for this very worthy cause - with the next one being planned for early spring."

If you would like to assist KAWS in reaching the target of R150 000 you can contact Belinda on 082 767 0847 or via email on kennelmanager@knysnaanimalwelfare.co.za.

Local DJ Frikkie Burger (Feel Good Inc.) had partygoers up on their feet from the first minute, and well into the night.