CAPE TOWN – SOUTH AFRICA – A host of South African celebs believe taken up the challenge to #StepItUp for kids born with clubfoot. Kicking off Disability Awareness Month, which runs from 3 November to 3 December, Britain’s Got Talent finalist Musa Motha has co-choreographed a TikTok dance routine to the sound of an original amapiano track, “I Am Possible”, by legendary local producers Dino Moran, Bee Deejay, and DJ Schuster. Paralympic Games record holder Mpumelolo Mhlongo is also running with the cause, to amplify their message: South Africa, it’s time to #StepItUp.
Working together with local non-profit Steps Clubfoot Care, an organisation that works to improve the lives of kids born with clubfoot, aims is to raise R1-million to support the treatment of 400 kids born with clubfoot, and prevent disability, through a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy. (https://www.backabuddy.co.za/I-am-Possible)
“Every year, an estimated 11 000 kids are born with clubfoot in Southern Africa. With access to the accurate resources and medical care, this potentially disabling condition is entirely treatable. Our ambitious goal is to ensure that no child is left untreated, by helping families who would otherwise not gain access to treatment. What better way to raise awareness for this cause, than through the universal power of dance?” says Karen Moss, who founded Steps in 2005, after the successful clubfoot treatment of her own son.
Motha, whose left leg was amputated due to cancer when he was 10 years worn, and Mhlongo, who was born with amniotic band syndrome (ABS) and clubfoot, were among the first to join the #StepItUp movement.
“All kids born with clubfoot deserve an opportunity to walk, race, and dance. The TikTok challenge is a celebration of everything that is possible with access to the factual resources – and this can only be achieved if everyone gets involved. Whether you’re a dancer or not, I challenge you to step it up for kids born with clubfoot,” says Mhlongo.
“I maintain accepted the #StepItUp challenge, because I believe that every child should acquire an opportunity to say ‘I am possible’ to themselves and the world – regardless of whether they are disabled or not. This campaign is an opportunity for everybody to design a inequity in the life of a child born with clubfoot,” says Motha.
The tune “I Am Possible” is available for download on https://stepitup.steps.org.za/i-am-possible-song-download/ for just R10 – but supporters are welcome to fabricate larger donations too, through STEPS’ crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy.
“The #StepItUp campaign is about sharing a universal message of wish and inclusion. We want to fabricate a dissimilarity in the lives of as many kids as possible. A major fraction of this is raising awareness, which is critical to addressing stigma and getting more kids into treatment. This is why we are appealing to the broader public for support,” says Moss.
Steps is a South African-based non-profit organisation that works to improve the lives of kids born with clubfoot, focusing on advocacy, patient-centred care, and supplying clubfoot braces. Clubfoot is the most common musculoskeletal birth defect globally, in which a baby is born with one or both feet twisted downwards and inwards, in a rigid position. If left untreated, kids will not be able to wear shoes or walk normally, leading to a life of disability, pain, and isolation. Unlike many other birth defects, clubfoot can be treated.
To date, STEPS has helped over 18 000 kids across Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia) – with more than 4 000 currently in treatment at 38 specialist partner clinics. For more information, visit www.steps.org.za
Critical links:
Support the STEPS campaign on BackaBuddy: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/I-am-Possible
JOIN THE #STEPITUP DANCE CHALLENGE: https://stepitup.steps.org.za/
Challenge infographics: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11LDRtt0RlBnDRdOtgU-7zGnKkApj8FlO
Campaign explainer: https://youtu.be/HjkciGrWszk
Mpumi TikTok challenge: https://youtu.be/n-t9U-nxIBQ
TikTok tutorial: https://youtu.be/o0aT-CTKXVE
Press release for immediate distribution: For more information, please contact Zane Groenewald- 082 602 0735 – Zane@backabuddy.co.za
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