Uniquely Me Pageant raises funds for custom wheelchairs
The participants all received a sash and crown, as all were winners in their own right.
The annual Uniquely Me pageant, held recently at the Springs Civic Centre, dazzled attendees and participants with a captivating ‘Under the Sea’ theme.
The pageant is held to both raise funds for custom wheelchairs for disabled children in the community, and to give them a chance to shine on the stage and receive a sash and crown to celebrate their unique beauty.
All participants in the pageant are winners, as the pageant is about uplifting and inspiring the children, not making them compete.
There was an auction of items during the show to raise funds, and the food and ticket sales boosted those efforts.
A custom wheelchair can cost anywhere from R4 500 to R10 000 or more, which means disabled children with specific needs regarding their chairs often are left behind because of the high cost.
Uniquely Me aims to help some of these children live a more accessible life by gifting them with the chair they need.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t meet our fundraising target; people are falling on hard times so it is difficult, but the children enjoyed it and ultimately that’s all that matters,” said Debbie Oberholster, the organiser of the pageant and founder of Uniquely Me.
The participants in the pageant presented themselves like kings and queens, with confidence and grace, a testament to the empowerment of the event aims to provide.
While the fundraising goal was not met TimBuild Springs donated 34 wooden toy boxes to the participants, surprising Debbie and the children.
Performing artist and model Chantél Evans was one of the MCs for the day, along with David Robinson.
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