On Sunday 3 November 2013, the third Nappy Run will take place at the Johannesburg Zoo.
All proceeds will go towards nappies to be distributed to care centres across the country, providing much-needed incontinence care and comfort for disabled childrenThe run is a project between non-governmental organisations (NGO) the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in SA (NCPPDSA), and the National Association for Persons with Cerebral Palsy (NAPCP).
The NGOs want to promote and protect the rights of people with physical disabilities. They believe that a society’s knowledge and understanding of disability issues is directly related to its response to disabled people’s needs and rights, and social inclusion.
Their Nappy Run is specifically aimed at highlighting disabled children’s rights and circumstances, with its month-long awareness campaign themed “Children with disabilities, our future with abilities”.
“I believe in uplifting the individual spirit through empowering a sense of self-belief and aspiring towards adventure. We all need support and encouragement on our journey and children with disabilities deserve all the same opportunities and dreams as the rest of us. If you can dream it, you can do it,” said extreme adventurer Riaan Manser, a 2013 Nappy Run ambassador.
According to Unicef’s 2013 State of the World’s Children: Children with disabilities report, children with disabilities and their communities would benefit if society focussed on what those children could achieve, rather than what they could not.
In 2012, more than 200 000 nappies were collected; this year the organisations hope to triple that number (Images: Nappy Run Facebook page)“As someone who loves to dance and sing, I am thankful of my ability for movement and expression every day. I chose to support the Nappy Run campaign for children with disabilities to help those children in our country who can’t always speak out for themselves,” says media personality Eloise Cupido, a Nappy Run ambassador.
The run is an annual event established in 2011 following National Children’s Day on 2 November; in its first year, event participants collected 100 000 nappies.
In 2012, more than 200 000 nappies were collected; this year the organisations hope to triple that number.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT: RUN DETAILS
Supporters can add the Nappy Run supporter’s badge to their website, blog or email signature, tweet @NappyRun, join in the fun run, or organise their own. The organisations also need volunteers to run nappy drop-offs or become ambassadors in their professional capacity; they want to build long-term relationships with partners and ambassadors.
Fun run participants can register online. The entrance fee is R50 per person and children younger than three enter for free. Registrations open at 7am and the race starts at 9am. Participants should wear comfortable clothing, or a cloth nappy creatively.
All proceeds will go towards nappies to be distributed to care centres across the country, providing much-needed incontinence care and comfort for disabled children.
For more information visit their website.
