Sir Richard Branson and family were surprise guests as the Starkey Foundation visited the Bhubezi Community Healthcare Centre in the village of Bhubezi.
On the Starkey Foundation’s recent swing through South Africa, the team made a stop in Bhubezi and was joined by some special guests – Sir Richard Branson, his family and members of the Virgin Unite team.
Branson and Virgin Unite set up the Bhubezi Community Healthcare Centre eight years ago to help those suffering from malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS.
Sir Richard Branson joined in with the Starkey team watched by Starkey Founder William Morris
For the past couple of years, the Foundation has partnered with Virgin Unite to hold missions at the clinic to reflect caring to the community through the gift of hearing. Branson previously helped provide the gift of hearing during a mission in December 2011.
Participating in the hearing aid fitting process and being directly involved in changing the lives of patients blew Branson and his team away. Branson’s mother, Eve, was especially moved by the experience.
After helping to fit a mother and her two daughters, Eve hugged and played with the girls, calling them her “little ladybugs.”
At the end of the day, Branson, reflecting on the experience, wrote in his blog, “Getting involved in this work with the Starkey Hearing Foundation is one of the most satisfying experiences that any of us have ever had.”
Visit : http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/the-gift-of-hearing to read about Richard Branson’s blog for more on his experience as a mission volunteer with the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
Starkey UK headquarters are based in Stockport. Visit www.starkey.co.uk and www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org
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Editor’s note:
Starkey Laboratories is one of the world’s largest hearing technology companies and a known-leader in the design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital listening systems. Headquartered in Minneapolis, USA, Starkey employs over 4000 staff in more than 20 countries throughout Asia, Australia, Central America, Europe, and North America.
For further information, please contact: Suzie Bryant, Starkey Laboratories UK Limited, William F Austin House, Bramhall Technology Park, Pepper Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, UK, SK7 5BX. Tel: +44 161 483 2200 Fax: +44 161 483 9833
E-mail: marketing@starkey.co.uk or visit www.starkey.co.uk