"This was unlike any presentation done before for several reasons, the most important of which being that the project was driven by this young man from Pennsylvania who got to hear of the Hospice’s dire need for a vehicle to transport the carers to patients in outlying areas. He took it upon himself to lobby for funding to support the purchase," said a smiling Peter Klews, Rotary Club of Knysna's PRO.
Gardiner, who majored in Mathematics at the Pennsylvania State University, New Kensington, is currently on a Boren Scholarship to study Portuguese in Maputo, Mozambique, from where he travelled by bus to personally attend this auspicious occasion.
Before leaving for his studies in Mozambique, Gardiner initiated a Matching Grant project between five local Pennsylvanian Rotary Clubs in the Greater Pittsburg area - Fox Chapel Area, Burrell Area, Oakmont Verona, Turtle Creek, Elizabeth and Knysna - in order to fund a car for Hospice. He has since received the Paul Harris Award, Rotary’s highest award, for the drive and energy which he brought to this project. "The names of the clubs now proudly decorate the bumper of the car as it takes its driver to comfort and assist patients," said Klews.
Gardiner came to Knysna, followed shortly by his mother, Jude and his sister, Kalina to present the keys of the car to the Knysna/Sedfield Hospice, represented by Rob Macgregor, chairman of the board, medical director Dr Janet Stanford and fundraiser Shirley Sparks.
The joy was clearly visiable when Gabriel Gardiner (left) travelled from Mozambique to personally hand over a Toyota Yaris, which, following a successful and extensive fundraising drive, he was able to purchase for the Knysna/Sedgefield Hospice. With Gardiner are (from left) Rotary Club Knysna president Ina Thompson, Chairman of the board Rob MacGregor and Knysna, Sedgefield/Hospice medical director, Dr Janet Stanford.
