Reach for the slippers and make a wish…

NON-GOVERNMENT organisation Reach For A Dream reflects on the generosity of South Africans as the organisation celebrates 10 years of Slipper Day tomorrow.

Slipper Day is Reach For A Dream’s most celebrated fund-raiser, and this year Slipper Day will be taking place under the theme, “Not all Heroes Wear Capes.”

The organisation said the theme was a fitting reminder that all the brave children fighting life-threatening illnesses, doctors, nurses and their families are the true heroes of this time.

“This Slipper Day promises to echo the hearts of all our heroes, and why it is so important for South Africans to come together and believe in the power of dreams and more so, what this means for a child sick in hospital,” Reach For A Dream chief executive Julia Sotirianakos said.

Reflecting on 10 years of Slipper Day, Sotirianakos told The Star yesterday that the foundation has learned that when you give South Africans an opportunity to give back, they will not be selfish.

“Our retail partners like Dis-Chem Pharmacies, Pick n Pay and Wimpy, have really shown that their customer bases really do want to give. The retail partners have a heart and soul that is completely in for Reach For Dream. They believe in the work that we do and that makes a difference,” she said.

The chief executive added that as the foundation grew over the past 10 years, they learned that preparation was key.

“We really do have an exciting project. One that is starting to become a day in everyone’s calendar and people look forward to a day like Slipper Day,” she said.

Reach For A Dream’s marketing manager Roxanne Manuel said that Slipper Day could not happen last year because of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown regulations, which placed a strain on the foundation and its work.

“It was a tough year for the foundation and it meant that we had to adapt to these changing times,” she said.

Manuel added that Slipper Day usually brings in about R5 million for the foundation and in a normal year, Reach For A Dream would fulfil six dreams a day.

“For a 33-year-old foundation such as Reach For A Dream, we had to do everything in our power to adapt to the times. Other than the online events we did to raise some funds, we also did a Slipper Week,” she said.

Sotirianakos added that working at the foundation was so special and it was a daily reminder that more hope and heroes are needed in the world.

Together with their retail partners, Dis-Chem Pharmacies, Pick n Pay and Wimpy, Reach For A Dream was determined to prove that dreams cannot be locked down.

The organisation encouraged people to gear up and get ready for Slipper Day on Friday by purchasing a supporter sticker for only R20 in-store as well as a new pair of slippers for the occasion by visiting www.slipperday. co.za.

“For every sticker purchased, you can also enjoy a free Famous Wimpy Coffee on Slipper Day, not forgetting to share your Slipper Day selfie on social, encouraging everyone to get involved,” Reach For A Dream said.