Dyspraxia sufferers the biggest winners

YOUNG beauty queens taking part in the Miss Modiforce beauty pageant will be raising funds for children with dyspraxia, a developmental co-ordination disorder.

The pageant takes place at the Observatory community hall on December 10.

As there is no organisation which raises funds to treat dyspraxia, the money will go to individuals suffering from the disorder.

Participants in the pageant are aged between four and 24. The theme of the competition is Red Carpet at the Oscars.

Each contestant is required to do a raffle collection of R200 to R300.

Cebokazi Ngcakani from Modiforce Pageants is organising the event.

She says many children in Cape Town suffer from dyspraxia, but because it is a little known disorder, many go undiagnosed.

This pageant will help create awareness.

Dyspraxia, also known as developmental co-ordination disorder, is a condition which makes it hard to plan and co-ordinate physical movement in the correct sequence.

This condition affects about 10 percent of the population, with 2 percent of this group severely affected.

Children with dyspraxia may struggle with balance and posture and can appear clumsy or out of sync with their environment.

The disorder can affect a child’s ability to do a wide range of everyday tasks, such as jumping, speaking clearly and gripping a pencil.