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In 2019 I turn 25 years old. It has been a long road. In 1994, I was left alone in a Mpumalanga shack at the age of six months old with only a candle for light. The candle fell. The shack burned down with me in it. Eventually I was taken to a series of hospitals. I was turned away as they assumed I would die. Finally the Far East Rand Hospital took me in, and I decided to fight to live.

My survival and the love of my adoptive mother and brothers, led to the formation of Children of Fire. Hundreds of children have been helped by the charity. But so many more need help.

Survivors of bad burns struggle for understanding. We are given cruel names and descriptions. All we want to do is walk freely as you do, without stares or gasps. We need the best surgery to make our arms and legs work again and where possible, to have our appearance made acceptable to you. Or Society can change its mindset and accept the incredible wonderful variety of humankind - even those of us who have been metamorphosed by fire.

Life is full of unforeseeable challenges, misunderstandings, misrepresentations. But I am still here, I am still loved and I know that I can inspire others to know that no mountain is too high for them to climb.

I have walked the fields and forests of Pinner and of Greater London for the sake of other burned children. In early 2019, after months of social-services-inflicted trauma, I had returned to southern Africa where I hope that I can continue to inspire other burns survivors by walking there. Each step is with a guide, because I can only see light with one eye and so rough terrain is difficult. But come rain or shine, every weekend I will continue to walk at least four hours, until my 25th birthday. 

Help me to raise funds so that the charity can fight the legal battles some burned children need to secure their surgery; so that operating theatre and nursing fees can be paid in the most appropriate hospitals; so that flights and accommodation costs can be met when children must travel to other countries to solve their complex needs. I, too, am praying for justice in 2019.

Thank you for wanting to help.

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