Help a child fight a serious illness by simply swopping your school shoes, loafers or stilettos for fluffy slippers and buying a R20 sticker
Slipper Day returns on 5 May 2023 and Reach For A Dream is calling on all South Africans to donate their small change to help children who are battling life-threatening illnesses. By purchasing supporter stickers valued at R20 each, South Africans can help these children reach for their dreams and earn the right to wear their fluffy slippers on Slipper Day.
Since its inauguration in Kwa-Zulu Natal in 2011, this fun fundraising campaign has grown into a nationwide movement, with everyone from office workers to school children wearing their bunny-eared and fuzzy slippers instead of shoes.
All proceeds raised from the day go to Reach For A Dream, a leading non-profit organisation, to help children fight a serious disease by making their dreams – such as swimming with dolphins, meeting an idol or celebrity or getting a new doll house – come true. This not only gives these youngsters and their families an invaluable respite from daily stressors associated with ill health, but stirs up much-needed courage and hope, helping these little ones believe that tomorrow is worth fighting for.
“Slipper Day is our biggest annual fundraiser with all funds going towards fulfilling the dreams of children who are facing some of the toughest challenges life can throw at them. This year, we’re calling on all South Africans to step up and support Slipper Day not only to celebrate these brave dreamers but inspire hope among them, so they know that no matter what obstacles arise, they are never alone in their journey,” says Julia Sotirianakos, CEO of Reach For A Dream. Last year, Reach For A Dream raised over R8.3 million – this year they’re aiming even higher with a goal of raising R10 million to help 2000 children.
Get your R20 stickers and Slipper Day merchandise
Locals are invited to visit www.reachforadream.org.za to purchase a pair of slippers or socks, and to bulk order your Slipper Day stickers.
Slipper Day stickers can also be purchased at retail partners Wimpy, Pick ‘n Pay, Dis-Chem Pharmacies, ToyZone, and Dis-Chem Baby City. Remember to wear your sticker and slippers to Wimpy on 5 May and get a free Famous Wimpy Coffee.
Step up and do the Slipper Shuffle
Reach For A Dream has also launched the Slipper Shuffle dance challenge to get the public on their feet and into their slippers to raise awareness for Slipper Day.
TikTok sensation and teacher, Mrs Bullock has choreographed the Slipper Shuffle – a simple, five-step dance sequence, which can be easily executed in your favourite pair of slippers.
The challenge is accompanied by a new hybrid dance track called ‘Step Up’, composed and produced by Neil Engel of Freq’ncy Audio, and featuring the soulful vocals of Bronté Borcherds, a singer and past dreamer.
Borcherds was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis at the age of nine and spent a lot of her childhood in a hospital receiving treatment. When she was 16-years-old, Reach For A Dream fulfilled her dream by taking her to Sony Studios, where she recorded a song with Loyiso Balla, an award-winning musician and broadcaster. Now 14 years later, the charity called upon Borcherds to help create its Slipper Day theme song in a bid to inspire all South Africans to step up and rally behind children with life-threatening illnesses.
“’Step Up’ is about believing that your goals and dreams are attainable; that even on your worst days, the sad days, the days when you literally have to pick yourself off the floor, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” says Borcherds. “Ultimately, it’s a song about hope and encourages everyone to use the power of their dreams to overcome obstacles.”
To learn the moves, simply visit Reach For A Dream’s YouTube channel and watch the step-by-step tutorial or the full 30 second Slipper Shuffle. Wear your slippers and sticker, download the theme song Step Up, film yourself doing the Slipper Shuffle, post it on social media and challenge your friends, other businesses, and schools to do the same. Remember to hashtag #ReachForADream, #SlipperShuffle and #SlipperDay2023.
“Getting involved with Slipper Day is an easy way to do something meaningful while having fun and supporting an incredible cause! So, step up, wear your supporter sticker and slippers on 5 May and do the Slipper Shuffle to help make dreams come true,” says Sotirianakos.
