The Starfish Story is Ubuntu at its best … reassuring us that every being on Earth is important

If you are a caring person no doubt you will have heard and it will resonate with you.  However, what does this have to do with our Legend, Mark Shortreed?

The story goes like this …

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?” 

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” 

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. 

Then, smiling at the man, he said…

” I made a difference for that one.”* 

Imagine if, by supporting Dr. Mark Shortreed, you could make a difference and save the life of one dog or cat? 

As a vet, Dr. Mark is no stranger to sadness.  However, amidst the sad stories, there are also beacons of hope.  We always read about KAWs and PAWs success stories, and Lunchbox Theatre can help them with the prevention part of the cure. 

More good news is how Doctor Mark Shortreed and our Lunchbox Legends are helping to change the lives of our young South Africans one child and one community at a time so that our country can realize its full potential.  

We have 8 shows covering environmental and social topics.  Some of the shows have the potential to save lives if the message is embraced by the right member of the audience at the right time.  Like a Dog’s Life which was staged at Hornlee Primary with sponsorships, good people like yourself made to Dr. Mark in 2018.   

Even if just ONE audience member remembers and takes a message of hope into adulthood, influencing others for the greater good along the way, it will be worth what we are doing. 

However, there is a pretty good chance that most of the over 216 000 children and many teachers whose lives we have touched have been influenced to be better, healthier and more productive citizens. 

Mark Shortreed cycled over 100 km in the Cape Town Cycle Tour 2018 to save the lives of animals.  His sponsorships went to educating the children of Hornlee Primary through ‘A Dog’s Life Show’.  

He is unable to ride in Cape Town Cycle Tour 2019, however, you can still donate to his Legend Fund via this link.

You can save the life of at least one dog or cat if more shows are taken into the community.  Think about one thing you are grateful to one pet for. Then extend the thought into thinking about the joy all the pets in your life have brought you.  How about donating R50 for every pet you have ever loved in your life?

Watch Dr. Mark Shortreed’s inspiring video. 

Then make a donation and save the life of one dog or cat. 

* original Starfish Story is attributed to Loren Eisle