CASUAL DAY

Once again, Casual Day invites the public to get on board for persons with disabilities.

South Africa’s biggest fundraising project for persons with disabilities, Casual Day, announced the amount of money raised during the 2011 project. A small donation of R10 is made for the official Casual Day sticker, providing a means for the project to raise funds.

In this way, a record amount of R20,315,451 was raised, benefiting approximately 400 organisations rendering services in the field of disability, via the structures of six major, national beneficiaries.

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.

The annual Casual Day event has become a staple on the calendars of corporate South Africa providing an easy and fun-filled way to make a positive contribution to this, one of most marginalised sectors of society. The opportunity for office camaraderie is welcomed as each year on the first Friday of September, people are encouraged to wear something different to what they usually do, wearing the sticker as an endorsement of the serious sentiment behind the light-hearted change in dress code.

Annelise de Jager, National Project Organiser of Casual Day since its inception in 1995, encourages each and every South African to participate in the 18th Casual Day event on September 7: “Our accomplishments over the last 17 years were made possible by the ongoing participation of the public and the huge effort the participating NGOs make fundraising and promoting the cause of persons with disabilities. We are continually gratified by the participation of South Africans in this project. Casual Day raises more than just money – it raises awareness and helps us get closer to the fully integrated society we hope to achieve.”

This year’s theme is Get on Board and the public is encouraged to dress like a captain, sailor or pirate, the implication is that wearing the sticker is the endorsement to show that we did in fact, get on board with Casual Day.

More information from Cornel Theron on 012 663 8181 or email: casualday@mweb.co.za or visit www.casualday.co.za