The KZN boy who bought a bicycle for his friend the petrol a
A throwback story that reminds us of what kindness and true friendship mean.
Hearing that a child wants to use their money to help someone else is humble and heartwarming. Most parents hope for it but don't always get to experience it.
It's a full circle moment for a parent when you see your child wanting to help someone else. It shows kindness, deep-rooted love, and an understanding of wanting to make someone feel special.
Today, we are throwing it back to 2019, when Vaughn Fish, a young boy from Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, shared his love of bicycles with his new friend, Tony, a petrol attendant at a local Caltex.
The unlikely friendship began in 2018 when Vaughn was feeling unwell. The family were passing by the Caltex Gillitts, and Tony made Vaughn smile.
Vaughn's mother, Mandy, shared the story of their friendship: "Since then, we regularly visit the station, and Vaughn eagerly looks out for his new friend. Tony always takes the time to talk to Vaughn about the various bikes we haul to Giba and back, and listens so obligingly to him as he chatters away.
So when Tony asked us to look out for a reasonably priced bike, Vaughn promised to find him one.”
The young man had been saving coins he had found around the house so that the family could go on holiday. But he came up with a better way to use his funds.
Mandy shared how her son approached her with his idea of using his savings to buy Tony a bicycle. She was positive that his idea was the best way to use his savings and supported his decision.
They broke open the young man's savings and headed to Game to get Tony his new bike.
Our children make us proud on so many occasions, but today my heart and his are so full of the joy at the kind man's face as he, rather stunned, accepted his gift from this 10 -year-old boy. Prawn Fish, it will be years until your mom allows you on Facebook, but when you do see this post, know that today, of all your days on this planet so far, my heart is the fullest and most proud of you it's ever been. Keep being kind and generous, with your time and money and remember bringing joy to others can bring just as much joy to yourself.
Vaughn's act of kindness snowballed in ways that Mandy and their family didn't expect.
Soon after the humble gesture, Caltex Gillitts contacted the family.
"DEAR MANDY AND VAUGHN, your kind gesture and generosity are unmatched. WE AT CALTEX GILLITTS would like to thank you for your support and generosity and to show our appreciation. We would like to make Vaughn's dream HOLIDAY COME TRUE, AND IT'S ON US. Please come in and see us to discuss," the wrote in a Facebook post.
Mandy was overcome with gratitude, especially since this was after Game Stores had contacted them to match Vaughn's donation by gifting both Tony and Vaughn gift vouchers of the same value.
People from all over shared their love and happiness over Vaughn's kind gesture, and it is undoubtedly a story that has left a mark on KZN.
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Image Courtesy of Facebook