Local Mother Theresa’s compassion for pregnant teenagers
The centre is in need of donations, such as clothing (0-12 months), toiletries, nappies, toiletries for moms, formula, financial contributions and a volunteer handyman.
Compassionate, patient and generous.
These are all words that can be used to describe Sharon Rushton (51), a local Mother Theresa for pregnant teenagers and their babies on the East Rand.
Sharon, who runs the Life Link Pregnancy Crisis Centre in Kempton Park, is passionate about the miracle of life and has a desire to help others.
She lives in Witfield and has been married to Past John Rushton for 32 years. They have three adult sons, of which one, whom is a special needs child, was crowned Magnificent Man Icon (MMI) Phenomenal Mr Gauteng 2019.
Of late she has been over the moon because supporters helped with the purchase of a house in Kempton Park for the crisis centre.
The centre receives no support from the government. Funds are generated through fund-raising activities and the generosity of donors.
The inspiration behind her idea to assist women with unplanned pregnancies stems from her schooldays.
“Pictures of aborted babies were shown to us at school in hope of preventing unwanted pregnancies. It was shocking and something that I’ll never get out of my head,” said Sharon.
The seed of the project was sowed in the mid-’90s when she volunteered for a pregnancy crisis centre in Pretoria by collecting donations on the East Rand and taking them to the centre.
A church then supported Sharon’s dream in 2001 to launch the Life Link Pregnancy Crisis Centre by assisting her to rent a house in Kempton Park.
The centre offers counselling and support for single mothers.
“This issue of unplanned pregnancies is bigger than most people realise. Not every woman has a happy story to tell when it comes to pregnancy.
“Facing an unwanted, unplanned pregnancy can often be overwhelming, and often life-changing decisions are made without the necessary support.
“Therefore, we’re assisting these women and trying to give them as much information as possible. Our motto is an informed choice is a responsible choice.
“Our youngest client is 12. Schools are promoting sex education, but children aren’t always emotionally mature enough to completely grasp the consequences of their action,” Sharon explained.
Sharon said that they received funding for the baby safe and baby section known as Jeremiah’s Hope. They are now just awaiting plans from the architect.
“There’s no need for women to dump their babies in a place such as a rubbish dump because there are people willing to help desperate mothers,” Sharon pointed out.
“The home for mothers was closed in 2006 as the stigma of being unmarried and pregnant and the need for the home decreased.
She appeals to companies and donors that might be interested in pledging to the organisation to contact her on 083 562 6106.
