SA GUIDE-DOGS ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES SECOND ANNUAL ‘WEAR YOUR SHADES DAY’ CAMPAIGN

The South African Guide-Dogs Association has announced the second annual Wear Your Shades Day campaign, set for October 18. This nationwide event aims to raise awareness and support for people with visual impairments while emphasizing the importance of eye health.

Pieter van Niekerk, a spokesperson for the association, explained that Wear Your Shades Day is not just a fundraising event but a movement that encourages all South Africans to stand in solidarity with the visually impaired community. By participating and purchasing a R20 sticker, you’re not only supporting essential services but also helping to build a more inclusive society where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can enjoy freedom and independence.

“Our goal each year is to improve the lives of around 800 individuals by providing them with assistance dogs and comprehensive training,” he added.

Van Niekerk, who is visually impaired and a proud guide dog owner, highlighted that Wear Your Shades Day is a meaningful opportunity for the public to engage and support their ongoing efforts to make a significant impact on the lives of people with disabilities.

How to get involved:

Purchase a Sticker: Show your support by buying a R20 sticker through the following options:

Online: Purchase your digital sticker on the SA Guide-Dogs website at http://www.guidedog.org.za.
By Phone: Contact one of the SA Guide-Dogs offices to order your stickers. You can either collect them in person or arrange for delivery.

Retail Partners: Stickers are available at participating retailers including Pick n Pay, Falco Milano, Big Blue, Pet World, and BUCO Hardware.Buildware.

Wear Your Shades: On October 18, proudly wear your coolest shades along with your sticker to help raise awareness about visual impairment and eye health.

Share Your Shine: The SA Guide-Dogs Association invites you to “Wear Your Shades and Share Your Shine” by celebrating what makes you unique and special. They want to see what makes you “shine.”

Globally, around 2.2 billion people suffer from near or distance vision impairment, with at least 1 billion of these cases potentially preventable through measures like wearing sunglasses to guard against harmful UV rays. Wear Your Shades Day highlights the importance of sunglasses for both protecting eye health and fostering confidence and inclusion for visually impaired individuals.

Funds raised from the campaign will directly benefit the SA Guide-Dogs Association’s programs, which include breeding, raising, and training Assistance Dogs for individuals who are visually impaired, physically disabled, or children on the autism spectrum. Additionally, the funds will support Orientation and Mobility services.

On Wear Your Shades Day, tag @sa_guide_dogs while sporting your sticker and shades, and use the hashtags #shadesday and #shareyourshine for a chance to win exciting prizes.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.guidedog.org.za or contact them at info@guidedog.org.za