As South Africa slowly eases out of the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting difficult challenges on people from all walks of life, the idea of dedicating October 2020 as a month of hope for all South Africans led to the creation of “HOPEtober”, an initiative from Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave to encourage people to work towards restoring hope through acts of kindness to fellow citizens. The simplest of gestures such as a wave or a greeting could change someone’s day.
Kicking off in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 a double-decker open-top bus with five highly talented SA singers including Craig Urbani (Chicago The Musical, Rocky Horror Picture Show), Danelle Cronje (Seussical The Musical, Doringrosie), Lelo Ramasimong (The Voice 2019 – top 12, The Colour Purple), Tshepo Ncokoane (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Kinky Boots) and Mortimer Williams (7de Laan, Fiela’s Child) will stop in the parking areas at the Netcare Sunninghill Hospital, Discovery Head Office in Sandton, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital where they will sing from the top level of the bus, adhering to social distancing and COVID-19 protocols.
The objective is to reach out to those in the building, to hear the songs. “While some may look outside from windows and doors, we do not want to draw people outside or to the bus; instead we are taking songs of hope to the people in the various hospital buildings as we proudly launch HOPEtober.” says Yudhveer Singh, spokesperson of Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave / HOPEtober.
Also doubling as the Master of Ceremonies, Mortimer Williams with the Adcock Ingram Sponsors of Brave campaign ambassadors Nicole Capper (Mrs South Africa 2017, runner up Survivor SA 2019) in Gauteng and Cape Town and Derek Watts (Carte Blanche, MC work, guest speaker) in Johannesburg will share a message of hope, then introduce the singers and songs including Spirit of the Great Heart, Paradise Road, Die Nuwe Oukraal-liedjie, Asimbonanga and a medley of popular Mango Groove songs, Dance Some More and Nice to See You with the evergreen hit, Pata Pata. The performance of individual numbers will last around 30 minutes, ending with the group medley finale.
On Wednesday, 23 September 2020 the bus with the same vocalists heads to Pretoria taking hope through song to the Netcare Unitas Hospital, the Life Eugene Marais Hospital and Netcare Pretoria East Hospital.
Thereafter HOPEtober extends to Cape Town on Tuesday, 29 September 2020 where the same repertoire will be sung for healthcare workers and patients at the Netcare N1 City Hospital, Groote Schuur, Somerset Hospital and the Red Cross Children’s Hospital. Mortimer Williams will be joined by Cape Town singers Leah van Nierkek (Movie – As Jy Sing, ABBA Tribute Show), Lynelle Kenned (Westside Story, Sound of Music), Namisa Mdlalose (The Colour Purple, Kinky Boots) and Keeno Lee Hector (Sarah se Geheim – Kyknet, Fame the musical)
Highly accomplished musicians, Wessel Odendaal (Rock of Ages, Phantom of the Opera) and Kevin Kraak (Lion King, Chicago The Musical) are the musical directors for the Gauteng and Cape Town performances, respectively. Gearhouse Splitbeam brings its technical expertise and equipment to amplify the sounds of hope in all three cities.
The live entertainment industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 regulations which means that performers, singers, musicians, dancers, creative and management teams, etc are still unemployed after six months. The producers of the initiative, Debra de Souza, Matthew Counihan and Yolanda Kimber together with the musical directors, photographers Christiaan Kotze and Lance Petersen and the singers each receive a nominal stipend for their time and support.
The HOPEtober suppliers’ Alliance Safety, Eyethu Events and Group, DPI Branding & Printing, Ulysses Tours & Transfers, City Seeing Cape Town, Riboville Hotel, The Last Word Constantia, Quench Catering and Carmen’s Catering all contributed in various ways. This initiative is made possible by the generous support of Adcock Ingram OTC.
In these uncertain times, we all need hope. Our lives have been affected in so many ways. By trying new skills or creating opportunities we are cultivating hope in our individual lives which positively affects those around us and those around them. From chefs making candles and personal trainers tutoring children to professionals packing food parcels there are so many ways to spread hope throughout South Africa this October and in the months following.
Through HOPEtober, Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave is reaching out, asking you to join them by lifting the spirits of those around you, sharing hope through kindness. A wave to those on board the HOPEtober bus is a great start, they’ll be counting on you to share hope throughout HOPEtober.
Find out more on their website HERE…
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