Eyabantwana

Eyabantwana "Eyabantwana: For the Children Trust" is a not for profit organization which aims to support children's surgery in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

More about The Eastern Cape Paediatric Surgical Service:
Founded in 1995, as the referral centre for the Eastern Cape, the Eastern Cape Paediatric Surgical Service provides surgical care for newborns and infants with complex congenital problems; children with cancer; children with burns and others who have been injured; and many other surgical conditions in older children. The Paediatric Surgical

Service in East London (South Africa) serves a population of approximately 5 million people with children being referred from virtually all regions of the Eastern Cape. As a result our centre has now become one of the four largest children's surgical centers in Southern Africa. Currently the medical staff comprise 3 consultant paediatric surgeons; two registrars in paediatric surgery training, one further senior surgeon and a variable number of junior doctors. Apart from a heavy clinical work load, continued medical education, academic interaction for current staff and training of the future surgeons is an important aspect of each week's work. Meeting the paediatric surgical needs one of South Africa's poorest provinces is a major challenge. Budgetary constraints have until now restricted our capacity to upgrade our facilities. The Eastern Cape Paediatric Surgical Service and therefore also the paediatric patients of the Eastern Cape will benefit hugely from the success of the Eyabantwana: For the Children Trust.

12/06/2026

Thank you, Judy Kirkwood Consultant for your support of our organisation.

This is a bit of a delayed post - apologies for that, but better late than never. Last week the paediatric surgical unit...
11/06/2026

This is a bit of a delayed post - apologies for that, but better late than never.

Last week the paediatric surgical unit had the privilege of being visited by Tanya, Lynette and the team from the Smile Foundation from Gqeberha. The team were here to perform hair lip, cleft palate and burn contraction reconctructive surgeries on a number of young patients from the city and surrounds.

The plastic surgeons, Dr Chris van der Walt (from Gqeberha) and Dr Mosadi Mahoko (from Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town), performed the various surgeries on 13 young patients in the Carte Blanche Paediatric Surgical Theatre in the Frere Hospital.

The surgeons, assisted by Frere paediatric surgical staff, not only performed the surgeries but also talked the assisting staff through each surgery, offering mentoring and training opportunities.

I was incredibly privileged to meet Dr Mosadi Mahoko and watch her in action as she harvested skin for a skin graft for her young patient on whom she was performing a burn contraction reconstruction.

Dr Mahoko is the first black female plastic surgeon to qualify through Stellenbosch University, and she was also awarded the Jack Penn Medal for academic excellence in her final board exam.

The Smile Foundation returns to the Frere Hospital in November to carry out more reconstructive surgeries during 'Paediatric Reconstructive Week'. We look forward to welcoming them back later on this year.

The Grandads Army LEJOG Challenge is done and dusted, and our legends have certainly earned their LEJOG stripes. In one ...
02/06/2026

The Grandads Army LEJOG Challenge is done and dusted, and our legends have certainly earned their LEJOG stripes.

In one final post, Phillip Pratt recalls the experience, from start to finish:

LeJog final post - 1 June 2026.
The trip started 10 May with an early cycle to Paddington and a train to Penzance. Over the next 17 days (including 1 rest day) Andrew, Jimbo, William and myself covered 1568km, spent 90hrs in the saddle and climbed over 15000m.
Andrew described it well, “We mastered dangerous single tracks, closed gates, tricky footbridges, road diversions, extreme cold, rain and strong winds.”

After 16 days on the bike it took us 16 hrs by train from Wick to Kings Cross station and then a bike ride home.

Apart from the challenge of cycling the length of the UK it was an opportunity to raise funds for the Eyabantwana Trust. For those who would still like to donate, the banking details are:

Nedbank South Africa
Eyabantwana - For the Children Trust.
Acc No: 1138181366
Deposit ref: LEJOG

Alternatively, through GivenGain:
www.givengain.com/cause/eyabantwana

Please continue to donate in support of these incredible heroes and this incredibly worthy cause. Every cent donated will assist in children getting the life-changing, and life saving surgery they need.

This past week saw International Medicing Week being celebrated by medical institutions and medical professionals. At a...
29/05/2026

This past week saw International Medicing Week being celebrated by medical institutions and medical professionals. At an event held at the ICC, and hosted by the Eastern Cape Department of Health and the iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu, two of our trustees, Dr Milind Chitnis and Dr Ziphozonke Mafika, had the privilege of addressing attendees of the celebratory event.

Dr Chitnis delivered a talk, "From Local to Global Establishment of Regional Paediatric Surgery Service (in the Eastern Cape)", which told the story of his and Dr Colin Lazarus's dream, and the story of their department, dating back from 1995 to the present. Dr Chitnis said how honoured he was to be captain such an excellent team of doctors and nurses, how privileged he was to be a member of this esteemed group of professionals.

Dr Mafika's presentation was an incredibly informative talk on the "Colaboration Between PathCare and the Frere Hospital".

Congratulations to Dr Chitnis and Dr Mafika on their selection to make these presentations as such an auspicious event such as this. We are incredibly proud of their achievements.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Our four incredible Grandads Army LEJOG heroes have completed their 1650km journey to raise funds ...
27/05/2026

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Our four incredible Grandads Army LEJOG heroes have completed their 1650km journey to raise funds for children's surgeries.

Phillip Pratt gives us his final account of the day 17 events, and the last leg to John O' Groat's.

"LeJog day 17 - 26 May 2026. Strathnaver via JoG to Wick which is the nearest train station to get home.

The last day of the ride covered more amazing Scottish countryside.
Fortunately the climbing today was early on so the cruise into JoG was quite relaxed. After celebratory beers there was another 25 km to Wick.

Stats today: 121km, 6h20 in the saddle and 1198m climbing.

Totals for the trip: 1568km, 90 hrs in the saddle and 15523m climbing.

Low point - our wild life sightings amounted to 2 fallow deer, 7 rabbits, 3 pheasant, a few squirrels and Andrew saw a mouse😎.
Highlights of the trip:
The extent of wilderness areas, woodlands and cycle tracks we covered.
The amazing people we met.
No punctures or major mechanicals !!

By the time most of you read this we will be catching the 06h18 out of Wick for Kings Cross in London. It took us 16 days of cycling and it will be 16hrs on the train to get home."

They've gone the distance, overcome the challenges and now let's show our support for these incredible men. To donate to this incredibly worthy cause, click on the link below:

https://www.givengain.com/cause/eyabantwana

It was the penultimate day for our Grandads Army LEJOG-ers, and a windy day at that, but they made it to Strathnaver wit...
26/05/2026

It was the penultimate day for our Grandads Army LEJOG-ers, and a windy day at that, but they made it to Strathnaver without incident, even meeting a fellow LEJOG-er on the route.

Phillip Pratt recalls the day's ride in his account of day 16's events:

"LeJog day 16 - 25 May 2026
Alness to Strathnaver.

We were packed and riding at 7h00 with a gradual 10km ascent and there was more to come. The wind was strongly across us which made things tricky on the long descent of Struie Hill. It was great to find coffee and shelter at the Ardgay Stores & Highland Cafe. Some nifty footwork was required to cross the Oykel Viaduct; this is a rail bridge with a metal cycle path bolted onto it and accessed by steep stairs. Next stop Lairg and while Andrew shopped for supper, William & I had a Cornetto ….
We met Anna (also cycling to JoG) who joined us for lunch at Altnaharra. Fortunately the 24km home stretch was flat and fast to “Wee Hoose Glamping”.

Stats today: 104km, 5h43 in the saddle, 855m climbing.

Low point - nearly getting blown off the bike down Struie Hill.
Highlight - wonderful lunch & beers at Altnaharra.

Tomorrow we head for the finish at JoG - 125km."

With the end in sight, our heroes still need your support in raising funds for this incredible challenge they're on the brink of overcoming. Please click on the link below to donate:

https://www.givengain.com/cause/eyabantwana

Our Grandads Army heroes have 230km left of their journey as they complete day 15 of the LEJOG challenge. It was a tough...
25/05/2026

Our Grandads Army heroes have 230km left of their journey as they complete day 15 of the LEJOG challenge. It was a tough day on the bike with some intense climbing and some crazy wind, but our heroes were not to be deterred.

Phillip Pratt reports on the day's ride, and it's challenges:

"LeJog day 15 - 24 May 2026. Aviemore to Alness with a pesky climb out of Dingwall.
Another dry but cool day in The Highlands. Early on we passed Carr-Bridge, home of The Golden Spurtle World Porridge Championships !! Unfortunately we were too early for porridge. Saw several cyclists along the way. Getting through Inverness was tricky and we had to collect our return rail tickets at the station. Crossing the Kessock Bridge with very strong cross winds required concentration !!

Stats today: 95km, 5h40 in the saddle, 850m climbing.
Two days, 230km to the end.

Low point - a cold brisk head wind for the first half of the ride.
Highlight - cruising into The Station “Eat - Sleep - Drink” Hotel in Alness."

Thank you, again, to all of you that have, so generously, donated in support of this incredible group of men. If you haven't yet donated, please click on the link below to show your support:

https://www.givengain.com/cause/eyabantwana

Day 14 for our Grandads Army LEJOG heroes, and this saw them experience the breathtaking beauty of the Scottish Highland...
24/05/2026

Day 14 for our Grandads Army LEJOG heroes, and this saw them experience the breathtaking beauty of the Scottish Highlands, giving them the opportunity of meeting some local livestock, the Highland 'coos'...

Phillip Pratt gives his account the ride, and their hairy encounter...

"LeJog day 14 - 23 May 2026. Pitlochry to Aviemore over the Drumochter Summit.
We’re into the Scottish Highlands and although temp in London is 30 deg it was effectively 6 deg going over the summit with a few patches of snow on the peak.
The ride followed the River Garry early on. First 45 km was a gradual climb and then mostly downhill into Aviemore. Coffee stop was in Dalwhinnie where we met 3 local mountain bikers. They were all in short sleeved shirts while we had two layers of long sleeves !!

Stats today: 92 km, 5h10 in the saddle and 750 m climbing.

Low point - nothing today; all good albeit chilly at times.

Highlight - finding our first “Highland Coo” that walked right up to inspect us. Am glad there was a fence between us."

If you would like to donate in support of the Eyabantwana Trust as we head for the finish in John o’Groats please click on the link below:

https://www.givengain.com/cause/eyabantwana

And that's Day 13 of the LEJOG journey for our Grandads Grandads Army heroes completed without incident, and meeting a f...
23/05/2026

And that's Day 13 of the LEJOG journey for our Grandads Grandads Army heroes completed without incident, and meeting a fellow hero.

Phillip Pratt gives us the day's account of yesterday's ride:

"LeJog day 13 - 22 May 2026. Inverkeithing to Pitlochry.
Another climb to start the day but only 2 km and dry weather. The route was mostly through idyllic farmlands with small villages and Perth the only city. For our lunch stop we took refuge in a bus shelter that worked very well.
At our accommodation we met a guy older than us who walked LeJog 20 years ago. It took him 3 months. Makes it sound like we are doing the easy option !!

Stats today: 94km, 5h40 in the saddle and 982 m climbing. Total to date 1156km and 444km to go in the next four days.

Low point - riding several km alongside the busy A9 with our “cycle track” in amongst major construction.

Highlight - cycling through Perth next to the River Tay and the “North Inch Golf Club” which follows the river."

Please click on the link below to donate in support of our heroes as they make their way to John O' Groats:

https://www.givengain.com/cause/eyabantwana

The Grandads Army LEJOG-ing legends completed Day 12 of their adventure yesterday. It was a day of thrills, and a spill ...
22/05/2026

The Grandads Army LEJOG-ing legends completed Day 12 of their adventure yesterday. It was a day of thrills, and a spill but they continued unabated, and undeterred.

Phillip Pratt writes about their day 12 LEJOG adventures:

"LeJog day 12 - Moffat to Inverkeithing.
A wet start to the day and a 5km climb out of Moffat. We had a few dry spells and a welcome coffee in Abington. On our way into the village Phil was busy looking at a fire engine, went through a muddy patch, front wheel slipped and he landed in a heap! Fortunately no damage to bike or body 😎.
For much of the ride the sweeping pastures with sheep and cows stretched for miles.
During another rainy section we took shelter in a barn with some smelly cows to have lunch. Not ideal but it worked.

Stats today: 107km, 6hrs in the saddle and 960m climbing.
Low point - from Phil’s point of view was baling off his bike in Abington.
Highlight - crossing the Firth of Forth. The “middle” bridge that cyclists use is where the “Queensferry” operated continuously for 800 years until the bridge was opened by The Queen in 1964."

To those who have donated to this incredibly worthy cause, THANK YOU! To those still wanting to donate, please click on the link below to support these amazing cyclists as they ride to raise money for surgeries for children:

https://www.givengain.com/cause/eyabantwana

Address

ELHRC, Cheltenham Road
East London
5247

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+27 71 888 8833

Website

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