Girls provide Valentine's cheer

[caption id="attachment_18270" align="alignright" width="405"] SHARING THE LOVE: Kholeka Pill,left, receives Valentine's gifts from Collegiate girls Kendra Van Zyl and Brooke Thomson. Picture: Brian Witbooi[/caption]

A GROUP of pupils spread some joy at Greenacres Hospital yesterday, proving that the "Valentine's spirit" is about more than just romance.

Girls from Collegiate Junior School handed out flowers, beautiful red cards and glittered cupcakes to weak and elderly patients.

The four – Kendra van Zyl, 6, Andrea van Zyl, 8, Brooke Thomson, 6, and Paige Thomson, 7 – were inspired at a school assembly which encouraged them to give back hope.

"I felt like I needed to give them something because I just want to make them happy," Paige said.

Andrea hoped the goodies would cheer the patients up.

The Thomson sisters' mother, Meryl, said: "A little bit of cheer and a happy expression are what the girls wanted to provide."

Mandelwa Fihle and Kholeka Pill, both, 84, and Madhu Daya, 68, were among those who benefited. "I've been here since Friday and hope I'll be leaving soon. I feel so weak but the girls definitely made me look forward to Valentine's Day," Pill said.

Daya said it was a "lovely gesture" for the girls to take the time to do something for others whose loved ones were far away.

Hospital marketing manager Adele Kennedy said the gesture showed the girls had a sense of caring and had shown the patients "how special they are".