Help bring hope to children with life-threatening illnesses
Reach for a Dream Foundation speaks to us about their work this year.
Children meet some of the Cell C Sharks in Durban as part of their Captain Courage Day, where they are given the chance to participate in adventurous and fun outdoor activities, encouraging young boys to keep up the fighting spirit.
The national organisation that helps children with life-threatening illnesses to reach for their dreams, discussed the work they do with the Sandton Chronicle.
Reach for a Dream, whose head office is located in Illovo, Johannesburg, said they fulfill about 1 600 dreams nationwide every year for children aged between three and 18 years old.
Marketing and communications officer Gillian Walker said: “We are proud to say that in almost 30 years, we have never not fulfilled a dream.”
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Dreams generally fall within five categories including meeting someone famous, going somewhere special, becoming somebody (for example, a vet for a day), having a special experience (for example, riding a Ferrari) or having or owning something. This year, dreams ranged from meeting racing driver Lewis Hamilton to owning a puppy.
“Dream fulfillment distracts these children from the reality of their illness and provides them with the inner strength they need to fight their illness.”
The foundation requires about R24 million a year to help 40 000 children reach their dreams or participate in one of the Reach for a Dream Foundation projects.
Some highlights from this year included Slipper Day and the Telkom 94.7 Cycle Challenge, which served not only as fundraising opportunities but as campaigns where the public could get involved and enjoy the experience themselves.
During the December holidays, Hamleys Toy Store teamed up with Reach for a Dream, to sell postcards for R10 at their store, which the public can purchase, write their dream on the back and post them in the red box in store.
Reach for a Dream will then select two cards at each store and fulfil the wishes of those children, with the proceeds from postcard sales going to the foundation.
Walker also encourages the public to donate to the work of the foundation through their website and find out about volunteering through the same platform.
Next year, they look forward to celebrating their 30th anniversary and urge the public to get involved in whatever way possible.
Details: To find out more about Reach for a Dream, visit their website on www.reachforadream.org.za
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