2012 has seen growing public support in nappy donations with the 2011 total of 100 000 already exceeded, but it is a still a long way from the 2012 target of 400 000 nappies. The campaign is still running until Monday, 3 December, so there is still a great appeal for members of the public to help create a comfortable life for children with disabilities in care homes by donating nappies.

A special thank you to the South African Police Service who have shown great support, hosting numerous Nappy Runs throughout South Africa and collecting a large amount of nappies.

The Nappy Run on Saturday, 3 November was a fun day for all with all ages taking part in the 5km fun run around the Johannesburg Zoo. Besides wearing nappies as hats, scarves and other creative accessories, there were many fun outfits. The atmosphere was inspiring with Stan Andrews, from Stand with Stan, as the entertaining MC. Dr BT Naidoo, a past chairperson of the NCPPDSA, welcomed everyone and spoke about some of the key challenges facing care homes and our country’s kids with disabilities in state care. He spoke of the daunting challenges facing these children, from their daily challenges of incontinence and lack of diapers to the long-term effects of negative stereotypes and stigmatisation.

“Nappy Run is a unique campaign, different from other charitable campaigns when the public is asked to donate money. Nappy Run benefits the children directly and support of the campaign through a donation of nappies will make 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 Dr Naidoo.

“Most women will know the cost of a pack of newborn nappies,” said Therina Wentzel, national director for NCPPDSA, before adding, “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 affect on these children of not having nappies.”

The United Nations refer to children with disabilities as the world’s most vulnerable and exposed group and this description most certainly also applies to our country’s children with disabilities. The World Health Organisation estimating 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.

The Nappy Run drive continues until Monday, 3 December and members of the public can drop their nappy donations at any of the nine Associations for Physical Disabilities (APDs) in each province. Details of these are on the Nappy Run website. To find out more, go to www.ncppdsa.org.za, Facebook and www.causes.com/nappyrun or follow @NappyRun on Twitter.