Musicians get behind Casual Day to raise funds for disabled

Led by rapper and motivational speaker 2J Harmonix, the Casual Day ambassadors are out in force to tell South Africans that the Casual Day theme is ‘Spring into Action’, in line with the end of winter and the start of spring in September. Harmonix and fellow ambassadors Thuli Matlala, Patrick Mashegwana and Khumo Moyane, spent some time at a recent music concert at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg to get the endorsement of hip-hop musician Zubz and TV presenter Lezanne Naidoo for this year’s Casual Day campaign.

Together they are encouraging young people to follow their lead and volunteer for Casual Day by helping organisations to raise donations for stickers and to get their schools to celebrate the day.

2J Harmonix said: “I was really chuffed to meet underground hip-hop legend Zubz, who is not only a brilliant artist but also a socially conscious person who has spent much time with disadvantaged youth in the townships of Soweto and Alex. I was so proud when I saw him wearing his Casual Day sticker and I hope that his endorsement will inspire youth in those areas to support our cause.”

Zubz said he was impressed with how 2J, who did not miss the opportunity to invite Zubz to work with him on a musical collaboration, uses his music to tell the story of how he lives with muscular dystrophy: “I’ve always wanted to share the stage with 2J Harmonix. Before, he’d seen me on stage while in my audience. This time I got to see him on stage while I was in his audience. Soon, we’ll get to share a stage, an audience and complete the cypher.”

Khumo Moyane, who matriculated from the Pretoria School for Learners with Disabilities, explained: “This is an ideal way to introduce learners to the idea of volunteering their time to a worthy cause… Casual Day is one of the school’s fundraisers and without the education I received at the school I would not have graduated from college and had the opportunity to become employed. There are hundreds of schools for learners with disabilities all over the country that benefit from Casual Day funding. And Casual Day is a fun way for learners to do their community service.”

Casual Day ambassador Thuli Matlala, who runs her company from Fourways, Johannesburg, said: “I invite all young celebrities and media personalities to use your fame to endorse Casual Day. The fundraiser provides the country with the opportunity to show their solidarity with persons with disabilities, at the same time enjoying togetherness with their fellow participants.”

Casual Day ambassador Patrick Mashegwana, who works for a PR company in Sandton, Johannesburg, added: “We are building bridges between the community of persons with disabilities and the society in which they live – and encouraging them to participate in Casual Day.”

Sponsored by The Edcon Group, Casual Day is the flagship project of the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa (NCPPDSA). Casual Day National Beneficiaries include the NCPPDSA as well as the South African National Council for the Blind, South African Federation for Mental Health, Deaf Federation of South Africa, Autism South Africa, Down Syndrome South Africa, National Association for Persons with Cerebral Palsy, South African National Deaf Association, National Institute for the Deaf, Alzheimer’s South Africa, South African Disability Alliance and QuadPara Association of South Africa. For more details visit the Casual Day website.