Ridgeworth Rescue (R&R) Fire Fund

Fire Fund for Anton and Ingrid:

When the elderly couple, Anton and Ingrid van der Westhuizen, got out of bed
this morning, they never thought it would be the last time. A fire started
during midday and within minutes it was a blazing inferno, demolishing all
except the clothes on their backs. Fortunately their wheelchair-ridden
mother and the domestic worker manged to escape sure death when the lady
smelled fire coming from the back room of the house. The cause of the fire
could not be identified as yet.

This tragedy has brought the neighbourhood of Ridgeworth together and 15
representatives from each neighbourhood cell gathered at 16:00 to discuss a
plan of action on how to assist the Van der Westhuizen couple.

Three immediate needs were identified as follow:
(1) Funds for basic personal effects such as clothing, toiletries,
pyjamas, food.
(2) Trauma counselling to cope with the loss.
(3) An initiative requesting support from the community at large.

It is hard to describe in words how heart-wrenching it is to see a home
filled with 36 years of love, family rearing, laughter, tears, heartache and
pain, reduced to ashes, but the one beauty rising from these ashes, is the
strong community presence, love and support provided immediately. Anton and
Ingrid, pillars of the community, have built their home from the ground up -
they both are avid collectors and love to travel. Nothing can replace the
memories and we wish them commiserations and good wishes for the months to
come.

If you would like to help this couple start afresh you are welcome to
contact Ms Yolandi Raath-Booyens, the appointed co-ordinator of this
initiative, at [email protected], who will provide you with either their
banking details or a list of additional needs. We would like to thank
everyone who is willing to help in any way possible.