This is open letter to Leonora Moore, a personal friend of mine, who introduced me to Kerrin Black, the founder of the Faces of Hope Foundation. The essential background to this is that I was introduced by Leo to assist Kerrin Black in growing her primary business, Talent Finders, an online booking agency for performers and other people in the entertainment industry. However, my focus shifted when Kerrin asked me to help execute a fund raising event for her Faces of Foundation. The whole project turned out to be one of my worst experiences in working, on a purely voluntary basis, on a very well intentioned project – raising funds for Cancer research & treatment for people who cannot afford to help themselves financially.

Anyway here’s my a rewrite of the email I sent to Leo and Kerrin, which got no response.

Whatever happened to real direct communication between friends Leo? Looking back I’ve tried my best to connect the dots between what the expectations were and what eventually happened with the charity fund raiser event screening the Ultimate Gift at Ster Kinekor, The Zone, Rosebank.

You seem to be siding with Kerrin Black on this one and totally ignoring my version of events that transpired. I like to know exactly where I
stand with you because I don’t have time for games, especially since we are friends much longer than you and Kerrin, from what I know about your friendship with her.

The only thing outstanding from my side is the 20 tickets I booked, and this needs to be paid. At least 40% of her ticket sales, donation are
from my own personal friends, colleagues and more. And she didn’t even have the decency to say my full name in the “thank you” list. The way the event turned out in the end was a big let down for me.

What really pisses me off about Kerrin is that makes as if she has a monopoly on feeling bad about Cancer treatment. So I’ll remind you and her, whom I’m copying on this email, along with my awesome PA, Yusuf Moses, whom she put through hell on the phone and in-person:

My mother’s sister, Brenda Smith, died from Cancer in 1995, primarily due to a lack of good or affordable medical treatment at the time. The two sisters lived with their sons in my grandparents house in Uitenhage. And when she died her son had just gotten a job @ in Sasolburg as a Mechanical Engineer, so she was proud and relieved in her duties as a mother. I was in my 3rd year of my Computer Science degree. There is more to this story.

I’m still flabbergasted Kerrin couldn’t get a simple two line quote for my press release from any medical doctors, especially given the fact that her own brother is one! This delayed my PR campaign for her by at least 2 weeks, and prevented me from getting her onto eTV Sunrise, SABC2 Morning Edition, 3Talk with Noeleen, CNBC Africa, Fairlady, Cosmopolitan, O Magazine, Destiny Magazine, Men’s Health, Shape Magazine, Radio 2000, 5FM, 94.7 Highveld Stereo, Talkradio 702, Cape Talk, Channel Islam and many more shows where I have been interviewed myself on other topics.

So maybe you don’t realise this; because of her own antagonistic approach to me, Kerrin missed out on at least 200-400% more cash donations. Her attitude towards me, via you and directly over the 2-3 weeks leading up the event was appalling and I refuse to work with her on anything in the future. I don’t know what else to say accept I do not apologise for my actions or words, and I wish you the very best in the future. It’s sad that a 3rd party came into my life and managed to cause such a rift between me and you Leo.