Personal message

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

Please help me support The Michael John Connor Institute by donating.

I have chosen this “Cause” for many reasons but mainly because I am in complete awe of this amazing woman who has chosen to dedicate her life to helping others less fortunate than her.  Her strength, positive energy and most of all her ability to hold it all together against all odds is an inspiration to us all.

I have the privilege of calling Gwen my Friend, - we were school buddies.

After Matriculating in 1988, we lost contact - reuniting again through Facebook in 2011.

Gwen’s Journey began with Michael John Connor, known as “Baby Michael” who had severe brain damage; cerebral palsy and blindness as a direct result of abuse inflicted by his parents at the age of 3 months. Mickey was born on the 11/07/2003 and passed away on 16/10/2011.

His parents were Bradley Connor and Melinda Marshall who were recently sentenced to 10years imprisonment for theircrimes on Baby Mickey. Their punishment only came 8 years after their crime.

Mickey came part of Gwen's family in 2006 and over time she had him moved from the Ikhaya Tini Vorster in Nigel to the Avril Elizabeth Home in Germiston. In 2009 Gwen and Andrew Hedges became his official ‘host parents’ Mickey was apart of their family and loved by all who met him.

After Mickey's passing, Gwen decide to open the Michael John Connor Institute in his honour and to keep his memory alive. 

Gwen began working full-time with special needs children in 2010 and opened her own day-care for these special children in Jan 2011. She is currently registering as an official special-needs care-giver with the Dep.t of Health. She is a member of Autism S.A., Downs Association S.A. and Fragile X Association U.S.A

The State refers abused/abandoned Cases to Gwen, even though the State provides funding on a monthly basis, these payments very seldom cover costs and often processed months later. Gwen is currently using the Profits from her day-care to subsidise these Children during this time.

Gwen is currently using her home and outbuilding as premises for her Day-Care and Haven for these Special Cases - Funds are required for equipment such as buggies, walking frames and splints. Funds are also being raised to make necessary strucutual changes to faciltate more Children.

I want to help Gwen and need your generosity, please support me while I ride in Memory of Michael John Conner and the amazing Woman, who takes care of little Angels needing her loving arms to hold them, in the 2013 Amashova.

https://www.facebook.com/michaeljohn.connorhome

The Michael John Conner Institute is a registered NPO, number 114-192

In Love & Light

Wendy