Who says adults can’t have a party wearing their pyjamas? It’s just wonderful that one of our avid supporters, Ruth Lockwood, is as fun and original as she is, because she did just that to help raise funds for The EARTH Centre!

After months of planning, networking and late nights, the Party for a Cause was held on Friday 27th July in Hyde Park. The party was splashed with all sorts of colourful PJs, dressing gowns and onesies, of the which, the unicorn, giraffe and rainbow striped onesie deserve a particular mention. Guests were greeted with Prosecco and there were fire pits with beautiful blankets to keep everyone warm.

In attendance from The EARTH Centre was Katrina Evans (Director), Natalie Stobaus (The Horse Person!) and of course two of our very smartly dressed therapy ponies, Blueberry and Peat. After arriving and settling in, the ponies took pictures with the guests and then mingled among everyone.

The highlights of the evening included high spirited speeches, a DJ and dancing and an icebreaker game. In this game everyone was given a blindfold and, depending on the colour of it, you were given a specific animal to mimic e.g.: a yellow blindfold meant you were a chicken and had to make clucking noises until you found all the other chickens. Once you had found your whole group, you made your way to the bar to collect a prize for the first one in.

On the evening of the incredible event, Ruth said “Tonight, will be my third year running this charity fund raiser, an idea that was first conceived in memory of my late father. I wanted to give back to the world and the community we live in, and thought that by bringing the most amazing human beings I know together, to have a good time, while raising funds for charity was a marvellous idea.”

There was a raffle too which raised an extra R3000. The prize was a family photo-shoot donated by AshKPhoto and won by Amy Deerans. The event has raised over R23 000 this year with more than 100 contributors.

“The event would have never taken place without Ruth who has put tremendous effort into it and whose enthusiasm and sheer determination makes it such a success every year”, said Marta, one of the co-organisers. And we tend to agree with her! We cannot thank Ruth enough for her unwavering support!

The EARTH Centre would like to express sincere thanks to the following companies and individuals who invested in the event:
• Ruth Lockwood, Emma Wade Smith, Marta Kochanowska Hodder, and Paul Radmall Jones, the core committee and organisers, and a special thanks to Emma for the use of her spectacular garden.
• Norman Good fellows for their generous support third year running with glasses/buckets etc.
• Boekenhoutskloof Wine Estate for their generous donation of the beautiful Wolftrap Red & White wines
• Robin Ohlson (Quadrant Africa) for arranging all the fire pits and wood
• White & Case for financial support – an amazing International law firm
• Santa Fe Relocation for financial support – an amazing Global Immigration and Relocation company
• Howie Gourmet - for the delicious Lamb and Malva pudding and helping with a financial discount for the third year running
• Angela Killan / Pauline Du Plessis / Jacque Le Roux who generously donated their time to sing beautiful hits from the west end shows
• Deon Barnard for being the spectacular DJ and MC for the second year running (also his Wife Heather)
• AshKPhoto – for so kindly taking fabulous photos and donating an amazing private family photoshoot
• Marion Ngena – Inbev so generously donating some fabulous Castle Light
• Minuteman Press – Gail for the printing of the final cheque
• Natasha Wray for bringing joy with the amazing chocolates
• Norwyn K for his inspirational words
• Katrina Evans - for her great support and hard work in cleaning up and delivering hay bales
• Dianne Baise and Rick for flying in from Durban especially (and helping to clean up)
• Danie - the amazing bar man for the second year running
• Michael Lebona Pernod Ricard

A special thanks to those that so generously donated but could not attend:
• Chi Le & Jay now living in Poland who so generously donated for three years running
• Emma Boyd
• Dr Cahi (Dentist)
• Rory Steyn (NSA Global)
• Jenny Walsh
• Karin Mathee
• Rob Johnston (Tiger Brands)
• Jonathan Scott (Standard Chartered Bank)

And huge thanks to everyone who attended and made this a wonderful success.