I am not sure the reader can relate to the relief and exhaustion one is overcome after the successful conclusion of an event like the Ball of HOPE. Preparations for a ball normally start a year before by determining the date of the next year’s event and “save the day” memos are sent out to all having shown interest in the event. Then obviously if one wants to have certain performers or speakers it is within this time frame to approach them and ask them whether they could block the time and commit to next years event. 5 months before the Ball of HOPE activities become more obvious with sending out invitations, getting with the venue operators into the details of execution, having meetings about program details and also acquisition of raffle prices are on the to do list. From that very moment until 48 hours before the ball commences, there are permanent activities of registrations, invitations, changes, and even in the last 24 hours before the doors of the ball room open, there are last-minute requests and changes. As the Ball of HOPE becomes more and more also an international event, guests arrive in the week before and logistics to accommodate and entertain become more of an issue. Adrenalin is pumping in the last hours of the Ball of HOPE and only when the dance floor is open the organizers can sit down and simply relax for a couple of hours and enjoy simply their own hospitality. This goes until the next morning, when the relief and exhaustion sets in as described in the first sentence of this posting and then… all starts again … the circle of preparing and executing a successful Ball of HOPE..
And this post would not be complete without thanking all who contributed to this success this year with hard work and dedication, but also those who came as guests and supported the good cause of HOPE Cape Town. It was great to have the Brooklyn Holy Cross Senior School Choir again – together with HOPE Cape Town’s Goodwill Ambassador and MC Katlego Maboe as well as Kim, the beautiful singer and the musical band under the leadership of Adolf Thelen they all contributed tremendously towards a successful charity eve.
Besides relief and exhaustion there is a great sense of joy that so many hands joined forces to assist their brothers and sisters in need. And doing this while having fun means to truly be an ambassador for and of HOPE.
Filed under: HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, SA-German Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Aids, ball of hope, Brooklyn Holy Cross Senior School Choir, cape town, Edwin Cameron, hiv, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, international event, Katlego Maboe, TB, Westin Hotel
God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE 