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inVOLVED: Compiled by Tracy KnoxPhotos supplied courtesy of Casual Day

Melinda Bam

BoardGet onfor Casual Day 2012

If no one reaches out, no one can be touched.

Friday, 7 September 2012 is Casual Day, South Africa’s biggest fundraising project for persons with disabilities, and we encourage all our readers to get on board and support this fantastic campaign by purchasing a Casual Day sticker for just R10.

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Pulane Masemala

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Paula van der Lecq,Pulane Masemala, Aggie Ngwenya

LEFT TO RIGHT: Pulane Masemala,Annelie van Dyk and Emma le Roux

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Charmain Meintjies,Kim Conradie and Ryno Lategan

Melinda Bam

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Casual Day is a project for all South Africans. Every R10 the project receives is put to good use rendering services to persons with disabilities.

Casual Day is a successful initiative of the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa (NCPPDSA) and beneficiaries include Epilepsy SA, DEAFSA, SA National Council for the Blind, SA Federation for Mental Health, Disabled People SA as well as the NCPPDSA. In addition to this, there is a network of 276 participating NGOs that retain a portion of the funds immediately on receiving money from sticker sales. The Casual Day benefits go even further in that in total, over 400 schools, workshops, homes, care centres and facilities rendering services in the disability arena, are touched by Casual Day funds.

Show you care by what you wear ... Inspired by a naval and boating theme, the 2012 message is, 'Get on Board'. Whilst everyone is encouraged to sail into Casual Day dressed like a captain, sailor or pirate, the implication is that wearing the sticker is the endorsement to show that you did in fact, get on board with Casual Day. But if you feel a bit like a fish out of water wearing an entire get-up, then just wear blue. Any shade will do - from sea green to baby blue, from aqua to teal to indigo; it’s all good, just get on board!

Now into its 18th year, the annual Casual Day event has become a highlight on the calendar for both individuals and corporate South Africa as it provides an easy and fun-filled way to make a positive contribution to this, one of most marginalised sectors of our society. Last year's campaign, which saw the nation dress in the theme, 'Rock stars - Worn to be Wild' in support of the cause, raised a record amount of R20,3 million. The funds benefited approximately 400 organisations that render services in the field of disability, via the structures of six major, national beneficiaries. They are preparing to break this record - but they can't do it without your help!

To buy your Casual Day sticker, visitwww.casualday.co.za to view a list of 270 participating public benefit organisations. Alternatively, you can get your sticker from: Absa, Game and DionWired, Edgars, Boardmans, Jet and CNA.

So, let's set sail together for the biggest and best Casual Day ever!

LEFT TO RIGHT: Xander Meintjies, Altus de Bruyn,Pieter van Heerden, Pulane Masemala and Annelie van Dyk

Melinda Bam

Melinda Bam

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èRelated articles:London Calls Wheeling Tennis Stars (Digital article, August 2012)Take a Stand and Join the Rhino Run (Digital article, August 2012)Children in the Wilderness (Issue #17, p. 138)

For more information visit www.casualday.co.za

iDINfo box

How Casual Day Changes LivesWhile you were sleeping . . . Molatelo Moyo’s journey to Transoranje School for the Deaf, a Casual Day beneficiary, started with him feeling feverish, shivering and experiencing strange sensations in his head. Molatelo was six years old when his mom put him to bed one night, as usual. By the next morning he was not feeling well at all. What followed were a number of doctor’s visits and a terrible illness that doctors are still unsure of. At first, tonsillitis seemed to be the diagnosis, but with the severity of the symptoms the Cytomegalo virus and Meningitis were the suspected causes that could have been the cause of his subsequent deafness.

With all the attention being on the illness, it took a while before his parents realised that there was something wrong with his hearing. He no longer coped with his usual school environment and something had to be done for him. Transoranje School, where he has now been for six years and is a Grade 5 learner, has provided a conducive environment for his education and a sense of kinship for his family. •

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