By Nikita Sylvester
Staff Reporter
She may be only nine years old but Milla Peerutin has single-handedly organised a Christmas party for little patients at Red Cross Children's Hospital.
If they couldn't go home - Milla, of Higgovale, decided - then she would simply bring Christmas to them.
After spending two months planning Monday's party, Milla's family and friends joined her and Father Christmas in the E2 specialist ward for a party that won't be forgotten in a hurry.
Acting as Father Christmas's helper, Milla made sure every child got a present and a bunch of sugary treats.
She said the idea of helping sick children came to her because her half-sister, Alexandra Peerutin, is very ill in London, and her friend Zachary Bloch was a former patient of Red Cross.
"I put up boxes at lots of places for people to donate toys, and I also asked people to donate money," said Milla.
Vanessa Raphaely, Milla's mother, said she was proud of her. "I'm always surprised how she just comes up with more."
Milla first helped the hospital when she was eight. She decided to sell muffins to raise money with the help of her au pair, Jenny Visagie, and her younger brother Max.
Raphaely said Milla got up at 6am to bake the muffins.
The determined youngster surpassed her R10 000 target to raise R13 000 for the Children's Hospital Trust.
All the money Milla, Max and Jenny raised went towards a new operating theatre complex which opened this year.
"Milla has no sense of fear after seeing people you love really struggle," said Raphaely.
Milla said that when she grows up she wants to be a cartoonist, but she also wants "my own orphanage so I can give children a home who don't have parents".