Footprints 4 Sam Super Sam Hero Vehicle Project

Dear Friend,

We are so excited to share the news about our wonderful Gala Fundraising Dinner that took place on the 26th of July at the beautiful Inanda Club in Johannesburg.

Despite the winter chill outside, the Polo Room was brought alive with colour, laughter, connection and generosity, as over 150 guests joined us for Illuminate 2025 - our annual celebration of hope, community and impact.

This year, we gathered with a very special goal in mind, to raise funds toward our very first "Super Sam Hero Vehicle" in Johannesburg – a project that’s been close to our hearts for a long time.

We’ve already seen what a difference safe, reliable transport can make. Our existing Transport Initiative in Cape Town has been running successfully for several years and has travelled over 400,000 kilometres, transporting more than 40,000 patients and caregivers to and from hospitals and clinics.

Now, we’re expanding that impact to Johannesburg. For many of the families we support, travelling to hospital is one of the biggest barriers to accessing care. Public transport is often unsafe, unaffordable, or simply unavailable, and when you’re caring for a seriously ill child, those challenges can feel overwhelming.

But thanks to the incredible generosity shown at Illuminate, we are now one step closer to changing that.

With the support raised on the night, we’ve begun paving the way for a “Sam se Bussie” in Jozi that will help ensure children can travel to essential care safely, comfortably and with dignity.

The evening itself was a beautiful mix of storytelling, laughter and purpose. Our incredible MC, the vibrant Dr Nokukhanya Khanyile-Lenake, brought energy and heart to the stage. Guests were treated to music, talented dancers, fine food, an electric performance from Larry Soffer the Mentalist, and a spirited live auction that had paddles flying for a great cause.

Each guest received a brightly coloured fleece blanket with a simple message: pass it on. This small but meaningful gift encouraged attendees to ‘pay it forward’ and offer warmth to someone in need in their own community, reinforcing the ethos of human connection that lies at the heart of the Trust’s work.

We will keep you updated on the progress of our first ever "Sam se Bussie" in Joburg and are hoping to have it on the streets of Johannesburg by February! 

From all of us at Footprints 4 Sam, thank you for walking this journey with us. It is through your ongoing support that we are able to continue to do the work that we do and we are truly grateful!

Warmest regards