Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital receives support from Ford

The hospital will be a living memorial to Nelson Mandela's unique contribution to Africa's miraculous transformation, and the legacy he wishes to leave behind for Africa's children. It will be a centre of excellence and a specialist referral hospital catering for children in need of long-term care for complex illnesses.

Pushing for Beds

Ford assisted by providing three Ford Tourneos to transport the celebrity ambassadors featured in the video. The video, dubbed Pushing for Beds, featured a host of South African celebrity ambassadors. The ambassadors pushed the children of Gauteng on hospital beds on a journey through rural South Africa into the buzzing city of Johannesburg.

The video concludes with the beds arriving on site at Wits University. In addition to having donated the land on which the hospital will be built, Wits University will be an academic partner of the hospitals, helping build the crucial capacity that will have a reach not only across the country but across the region too.

The Ford Tourneo, launched in South Africa earlier this year, is a stylish people mover that offers car-like comfort and driving dynamics. With its tasteful appearance, smart technologies and outstanding fuel economy it is a smart choice for transporting families and executive shuttle customers.

Supporting one of Mandela's legacies to SA's children

"This Nelson Mandel Children's Hospital epitomises Nelson Mandela's love of children and I am certain it will be considered his legacy to the children of South Africa," says Alisea Chetty, corporate communications manager at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa. "We were eager to assist in any way we could and providing the transport for the ambassadors throughout the shoot was the least we could do."

The hospital is a unique project in that capital funding is coming entirely from donors, while operational expenditure will be provided by the South African Department of Health. The project affords every South African, and individuals around the world, an opportunity to make a contribution toward its construction, however small.

"A crucial part of the fundraising campaign to build the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital is the participation of the global community in making sure Madiba's wish comes true. It is particularly true in this, his birthday month. And we are thankful to Ford for supporting the production of this video with our ambassadors," says Vuyo Lutseke, media and communications officer of the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Trust.

To make a donation to the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital, SMS 'GIFT' to 40301 (SMS costs R20; terms, conditions and network administration costs apply) or go to www.nelsonmandelachildrenshospital.org.