Comfy shoes to make dreams come true
With the theme Do It For The Dreamers, this year's campaign encourages people to not only wear their quirkiest, comfiest slippers for a day, but to walk in the shoes, literally and figuratively, of the brave young dreamers who spend much of their time in slippers due to illness.
Kerry Donkin, regional manager for Reach For A Dream in KZN, Free State, and Northern Cape, says Slipper Day is the foundation's largest national fundraiser.
Also read: Briardene organisation opens the doors to education
'It's the perfect way for corporates, schools, and individuals to get involved and help make a child's dream come true,' said Donkin.
'These dreams vary from meeting celebrities to tasting ice cream for the first time; and we do everything we can to make them happen.'
Reach For A Dream supports children aged three to 18 who are diagnosed with one of 110 life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, liver and heart conditions, renal failure, and muscular dystrophy. Each dream is tailored to a child's unique desires and medical limitations.
'We always listen carefully to the children and learn what truly brings them joy,' said Donkin.
'We want to encourage dreamers that tomorrow is worth fighting for. Their dreams matter. By supporting Slipper Day, you can help convey this message to our courageous dreamers across South Africa,' she added.
Also read: Tee off in Mount Edgecombe and help save lives
Supporting Slipper Day goes beyond buying a pair of fluffy footwear. Participants can purchase a R20 sticker, the official symbol of support, from major retailers including Wimpy, Pick n Pay, Dis-Chem, Dis-Chem Baby City, Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Krispy Kreme, and Hush Puppies.
Virtual stickers and merchandise can also be bought from the Reach For A Dream website – www.reachforadream.org.za.
Thanks to Zapper, purchasing stickers online is now as easy as scanning a QR code.
As a bonus, Wimpy is offering a free Famous Coffee (or hot chocolate for kids under 12) to anyone wearing their sticker and slippers on May 31.
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