Hot 102.7 FM celebrates Christmas by changing lives, Hot Cares.

Over the course of two weeks in December, Hot 102.7FM’s Breakfast and Afternoon tour saw Joburg’s hottest breakfast and the emotional reception they received live on Greater Joburg Drive on air, breaking the good news and overflowing with tears. Both in the studio and on the ground.

The stories themselves were heartbreaking.

For example, a single mother with two children and a parent with cancer who is struggling to keep her autistic son in school; a former drug addict who survived a suicide attempt and needed a prosthetic eye; A young person with kidney disease who is in dire need of dialysis; A star student with a poor background who Hot Cares is now placing in university; An animal rescue center that needs a small truck to transport sick and injured pets; A homeless teenager who lost most of her family in a tragic fire; Mother and daughter living on the streets; A blind pensioner who needs cataract surgery; And someone suffering from emphysema needs an inverter to combat the burden.

All the wonderfully worthy recipients, now with a little love and light in their hearts, some of their burdens lightened and enter Christmas.

Hot 102.7 FM Managing Director Lloyd Madurai said: “This was another example of how we are privileged to use the power of radio and our platform to do some good. “Seeing our presenters in tears and receiving so many audio notes from listeners telling us how we touched their lives was so much fun, and that’s what makes Hot Cares Christmas so special.”

A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make Hot Cares Christmas sustainable and successful.

“It all starts with our annual Teddython fundraiser, which this year raised R8.9m from organizations and individuals, giving us a way to ‘give away’ those Christmas wishes,” Hot Cares managing director Carmen Rocha said. “We then put the word out to the warm 102.7FM audience, asking listeners to give some relief to individuals who feel they could do with some Christmas cheer.”

That led to a flood of emails, Hot Cares was inspired by the generosity of Hot 102.7FM listeners, the stories of many people helping to change the lives of those in need.

Hot Cares Christmas is one of many initiatives of the non-profit company.

Hot Care has public benefit organization status and strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around it. It conducts its efforts to provide the necessary assistance to people in difficult situations, focusing on four key areas: humanitarian and welfare, medicine, education and animal welfare.