Breakfast run fundraiser to help save little girl’s life
ZULULANDERS have added their support to fundraising drives to help pay the medical costs for Benoni toddler Kyleigh Milana Kista, who needs to undergo urgent heart surgery in the United States of America, which will cost R5-million.
The North Coast Motorsport Club in Richards Bay is hosting a breakfast run fundraiser for Kyleigh on Saturday, beginning at KnK Curries at Tuzi Gazi Waterfront in Meerensee at 10am.
Comedian Karou Charou who supports the cause will be making a guest appearance.
Community members will have the opportunity of pledging financial donations to help the Kista family.
Three-year-old Kyleigh was diagnosed with a complex congenital heart defect at birth and her condition has been described by cardiothoracic surgeons as a ‘monster in her chest.’
She has already endured three open-heart surgeries and countless non-invasive procedures that have done little to alleviate the threat.
In November 2021, the Kista family were left with limited options to save their daughter's life in South Africa and the family investigated alternative treatments, finally reaching out to the Boston Children’s Hospital in the USA for a second opinion.
Her mother, Serina, said the hospital proposed an innovative technique to repair her heart, which they currently perform with great success.
'Our deadline is 30 January to make the full payment. Any funds raised will be transferred directly to the Boston Children’s Hospital.
'The hospital will only provide a visa letter once payment has been cleared,' said Serina.
'Kyleigh needs to have the surgery no later than March, as one of two collateral arteries which keeps her alive has narrowed severely.'
People from across the country and around the globe have come out to support Kyleigh and the crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy has raised more than R2.6million so far.
To donate via BackaBuddy, visit https://www.backabuddy.co.za/ kyleigh-kista