South Africans are urged to show their generosity by supporting this year’s Slipper Day, a fundraising campaign of the Reach For A Dream Foundation. This year’s event will be on 31 May, promising a day filled with warmth, generosity, and fun for all in support of children with life-threatening illnesses.
Since its inauguration in 2011, Slipper Day has become a nationwide movement where everyone from office workers to school children band together to make dreams come true for children with critical diseases like cancer, renal failure, and heart conditions.
To support the campaign, all are asked to simply buy a R20 sticker and wear it with their slippers on the day.
This year’s theme, “Step into My Slippers”, focuses on empathy, fun, and stepping into the shoes (or rather, slippers) of these brave children.
This simple act demonstrates solidarity and support for these children, who often spend their days in slippers due to their health conditions.
“Our children face unimaginable struggles each day in the hospital. Their courage and resilience are awe-inspiring,” says Julia Sotirianakos, chief executive officer (CEO) of Reach For A Dream.
“This year, we are calling on everyone to buy a sticker and step into their slippers on Slipper Day. By trading your shoes for slippers, you are stepping into these youngsters’ world, showing them that they are not alone in this fight.”
All funds raised from the campaign go to the Reach For A Dream Foundation, a non-profit organisation (NPO) that makes dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses.
Since its inception in 1988, the foundation has turned more than 27 670 dreams into a reality.
These dreams, ranging from meeting personal heroes to experiencing new things for the first time, provide the children with a temporary escape from their illness and a much-needed distraction from often painful medical treatments.
Physical stickers can be purchased from Wimpy, Pick n Pay, Dis-Chem Pharmacies, Dis-Chem Baby City, Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Krispy Kreme and HushPuppies.co.za.
Those who want to buy their stickers and a pair of funky slippers or socks online are also encouraged to visit the Reach For A Dream website at reachforadream.org.za. These come in a variety of sizes, colours, and designs for children and adults. Stickers can also be bought in bulk from the online store.
This year, Zapper has come on board to make it as easy as possible for people to pay for their virtual Slipper Day stickers, by simply scanning a Zapper QR code.
