We are Kate and Bruce Dennill, and we have two daughters, Bethany, aged 18 and Faith, aged 16. Our journey with Faith has been unexpected in almost every way. After a very complicated pregnancy, our tiny, 2kg baby showed from birth that she had clearly not read any of the textbooks! The doctors started to get twitchy when she began missing milestones, and we were referred a professor of genetics and a paediatric neurologist, among others, at which stage Faith was subjected to various investigations including MRI scans and eventually the harvesting of blood samples that went to the States for a gene array.

We have never been fixated on a diagnosis but have always done our best to provide the best assistance for whatever challenge is facing Faith at the time. Praise God that we live in a city with access to the most extraordinarily qualified health professionals. However, this all comes at a cost.

Early in 2015 we were informed that intensive audiology testing had revealed that Faith was severely deaf. After a visit to a specialist ENT and further scanning, she was diagnosed with a tumour in her left ear. The surgery was successful and after a convoluted path she began to wear her first pair of hearing aids.

Big costs like those need addressing frequently, so on a good friend’s prompting and advice, we formed a trust for the purpose of fundraising. The money raised is used to continue providing the care to help Faith achieve her best potential. The impact of the funds raised over the years has been immense. Using this money, we have been able to consistently provide the best schooling and therapies for Faith. As her needs have changed over the years, we have been able to adjust and upgrade everything from schooling options to hardware such as hearing aids, spectacles and orthotics. Faith is achieving excellent academic results for her levels and is able to communicate and interact easily and enjoyably with everyone she meets.

Those of you who have met Faith will know that she is blessed with a wonderful personality, full of fun and the most inspiring ability to persevere. We are grateful for your love, support, prayers and interest, and give glory to our heavenly Father for His faithfulness on this journey.

We would like to share with you that the Trust sponsored a large portion of Faith’s 2024 remedial tuition, enabling her to continue learning and growing in the best possible environment where she also has access to excellent speech and occupational therapy. We hope to be able to cover those same costs for 2025. We feel extremely grateful as we watch her develop and grow. The journey is still often unexpected, but despite further challenges, Faith continues to inspire all who know her with her courage and perseverance.

Our friends Dave, Fiona, Tim, Jonathan and Rebecca Reynders have ridden the 94.7 Cycle Challenge since 2016 on Faith’s behalf. In 2020, with the race cancelled due to Covid, Dave devised a new challenge, riding up and down Northcliff Hill 10 times and covering a distance of around 75km in the process. This year, Dave will again be joined by his wife Fiona, riding a tandem bike – and this time heading offroad to complete the Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg MTB race! Their theme is “Shrek & Princess Fiona” – please cheer as you see them ride past!

Please consider sponsoring Dave and Fiona in 2024 and watch out for them as they “highlight the plight” of those with communication difficulties. See the bottom of this page for a secure, convenient donation mechanism, as well as the Faith Dennill Trust Fund banking details if you’d prefer to make an EFT. We’d love to thank you personally, so if you’re comfortable, please include your name and surname as a reference? No pressure, though…

On the day (9 November 2024), look out for the #faithdennilltrust hashtag and, if you have any questions, connect with Bruce on social media: Facebook Twitter Instagram.