Books bring cheer to Red Cross

The young patients at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital had some colour added to their lives when 1 000 colouring-in books and wax crayons were delivered to them last Thursday.

Author, Tony Vroom, who is the creator of a children’s book called Alfie’s African Animals Colouring in Book was inspired to work on this book when he met 5-year-old Alfie while visiting the Island of Poros in Greece .

According to Mr Vroom, Alfie spent many of his early years in hospital due to medical complications and after he noticed that young Alfie had a soft toy – a tiger – they had many conversations about African animals. It wasn’t too long before Mr Vroom set about creating the colouring-in book, which he completed over a period of eight months – in consultation with friends’ children.

“For me the journey lies in what the book can hopefully achieve, providing children with some fun and creativity and a little knowledge about the wildlife of Africa that should remain precious to all of us,” said Mr Vroom.

“He(Alfie) is also a miracle child and this prompted me to investigate whether the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital would be interested in the colouring in-book,” said Mr Vroom.

Mr Vroom said Alfie still has the original transcripts of the colouring-in book.

Dr Matodzi Mukosi, CEO of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, said they were grateful for the donation.

“Not only will this brighten the lives of our young patients, but it will also assist with their rehabilitation and treatment,” said Dr Mukosi.

Mr Vroom, who studied art at Stellenbosch University in the 1970s, works as a surveyor and last year self-published a photographic coffee table book on Namibia.