Pampers supports Nappy Run with 10,000 nappies

The campaign, which raises awareness for children with disabilities and encourages the public to donate nappies, came to a close last week when Pampers, one of the 2013 campaign partners, handed over the last of their generous sponsorship of 10,000 nappies to the Nkanyezi's Care Centre in Soweto on Tuesday, 11 February.

Guests were invited to attend the handover ceremony to meet the team behind the campaign, the partners, the care centre staff as well as some of the children whose lives have been changed by the initiative.

"Nappy Run is a unique campaign and benefits the children directly. By supporting the campaign through a donation of nappies makes a tangible difference in the day-to-day quality of life for hundreds of children with disabilities, especially those who are poor, isolated and living on the fringes of society," said Therina Wentzel, national director for NCPPDSA. "Most women will know the cost of a pack of newborn nappies, now imagine the cost of larger sized nappies as an ongoing expense on your weekly shopping list. Worse still, imagine the kids in volunteer-run centres who are incontinent and unable to go to the toilet themselves, and then imagine the effect of not having nappies."

SA's children with disabilities

The United Nations refers to children with disabilities as the world's most vulnerable and exposed group and this description most certainly also applies to South Africa's children with disabilities. The World Health Organisation estimates there are approximately 300,000 children with disabilities in SA. It is also shocking to note that only a very small number of these kids have access to schools with nearly half, an estimated 165,000 children with disabilities of school going age, being out of school.

According to Jeanne du Plessis, communications manager of P&G, Pampers are delighted to have been involved as we all need support and encouragement on our journeys and children with disabilities deserve the same opportunities and dreams as the rest of us. She adds, "we hope that our involvement made a strong positive impact on the lives of children with disabilities, not only in terms of the difference that the nappies made in providing in a basic need, but in terms of the overall advancement of the dignity, care, development and social inclusion of many children with disabilities.

Apart from the donation of 10,000 nappies, Pampers have also provided R50,000 towards the campaign. Although the official handover took place at the Nkanyezi Care Centre, the total number of nappies were divided between a number of needy care centres in Soweto.

For more information or to find out how to get involved in the 2014 campaign in November this year, go to www.nappyrun.org.za or www.facebook.com/Nappyrun.sa or follow on Twitter @NappyRun.