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The Citizen
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Step up in style this Funky Socks Day
PNA Funky Socks Day, an annual nationwide fundraiser designed to uplift South African and Namibian communities one funky sock at a time, takes place on September 12. Now in its fourth year, Funky Socks Day brings together customers, schools and businesses to support four vital non-profit organisations, namely Breadline Africa, the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (Choc), Rally to Read and Matla a Bana, by raising R2.5m. The fundraising campaign runs from Nelson Mandela Day (July 18) until September 12. Funky Socks Day urges the nation to show off their sticker and wear their funkiest socks in support of a meaningful cause. 'PNA Funky Socks Day is more than a fundraiser; it's a movement,' says Antoinette Kleyn, PNA advertising and promotions manager. 'We invite everyone to step up in style and make a meaningful difference. Together, one sticker – and one pair of socks – at a time, we can brighten children's futures.' 'At PNA, we believe a small step in funky socks can create giant leaps in changing lives,' adds Herman Botha, senior executive: product and marketing. A fun step towards real change For just R10 (South Africa) and N$10 (Namibia), people can buy their sticker in-store at any PNA. Companies and teams can also get involved by ordering bulk stickers (minimum 100) online. Breadline Africa Breadline Africa's mission is to create safe educational spaces where children can dream, play and learn – one child, one school, one hope-filled space at a time. With funds raised through Funky Socks Day 2025, educational resource packs will be delivered to children across some of South Africa's most under-resourced communities. For many children, this will be the first time they have a pencil case and workbook, a small but powerful step towards building pride and confidence in their learning. Marion Wagner, the CEO of Breadline Africa, says: 'Through this partnership, we aim to bring learning to life. These funds will help us provide educational packs to 50 early childhood development centres, enabling educators and bright young minds.' Choc Choc's mission is to walk alongside children and teenagers, and their families, many from under-served communities, through every stage of their journey. The organisation offers practical support, such as providing care bags, accommodation and transport, which helps ease the challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis. One of Choc's most inspiring initiatives is the iPad Learning Programme, developed with iSchoolAfrica, which gives patients tools to continue learning during lengthy treatments and also joy and a distraction in an otherwise challenging time. Hedley Lewis, the CEO of Choc, says: 'Choc is proud to stand alongside PNA once again. Every sticker sold brings us closer to providing essential digital learning tools for children undergoing treatment.' Rally to Read Rally to Read brings the gift of literacy to life in South Africa's most remote and under-resourced communities. With support from campaigns like Funky Socks Day, they can empower teachers and parents to become champions of education. Through the delivery of essential learning materials, teacher training and take-home literacy kits, Rally to Read opens doors to brighter futures for thousands of children who would otherwise be left behind. Pam Richardson, the chairperson of Rally to Read, says: 'Literacy is freedom. With this support, we can expand teacher training and equip parents to support reading at home, especially in under-resourced communities.' Matla a Bana Matla a Bana stands beside some of South Africa's most vulnerable children, those who have survived abuse. The organisation supports officers of the law who investigate child rape cases. Campaign funds will see 500 comfort packs provided to child victims during their first, often traumatic, visit to a police station or hospital. Each pack contains essentials like toiletries, snacks and a soft toy. These small, thoughtful items bring a sense of safety, dignity and reassurance in a moment of fear and help children to feel seen and supported while being comforted. Monique Strydom, the founder of Matla a Bana, says: 'Each comfort pack we distribute offers hope, dignity and care to children who have faced unthinkable trauma. Thanks to Funky Socks Day, we can reach 500 more children this year.' Namibian footprint Several Namibian schools will also be selected by PNA to receive educational resource packs. Support the campaign You can support the campaign in various ways: Purchase limited-edition custom socks, which are available from PNA in two exclusive designs. Only 1 000 pairs of each design are being produced. Order customised socks: Corporate teams, schools and other groups can order customised socks via PNA's website (minimum order: 50 pairs). Each pair sold comes with a free Funky Socks Day sticker. Order by August 28. Funky Socks Day stickers: Buy your sticker at PNA or online. Wear your funky socks on September 12, post your pics using the hashtags #FunkySocksDay2025 #RockYourFunkySocks #PNAFunkySocksDay The campaign aims to raise R2.5m by September 12, and an additional R500 000 by February 2026 to drive long-term impact. Track the campaign's fundraising progress live. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Madison Chock, Evan Bates shuck weight of past ice dance glories to seek more
BOSTON — When the triumphs pile up, when you have been atop the field in your sport for more than two seasons, when you have been a medalist in national and world championships from your early 20s to your 30s, it is easy to become happy with what you have already accomplished in 14 seasons as competitors. For those who become timeless champions, though, the Sisyphean but still fulfilling quest for perfection always endures. So it is for U.S. ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who came into the 2025 World Championships with an Olympic gold medal, six national titles and five world medals, the last two of them gold. Advertisement 'Yes, we've accumulated some titles along the way, but it still feels like we're still striving for excellence and looking for ways to improve ourselves,' Chock said in a recent interview. FIGURE SKATING WORLDS: Results | Broadcast Schedule 'The process for us hasn't really changed, and we always have very strong, big goals. So it's really just a pursuit of excellence and gold.' They are closing in on another gold after a dazzling skate Friday afternoon in the rhythm dance, for which this season ice dancers had to choose music from the '50s, '60s and '70s. Advertisement Chock, 32, and Bates, 36, decided to run the gamut, bringing audiences on what they called 'A Journey Through the Decades.' With snippets of 'Let's Twist Again,' 'Rock Around the Clock,' 'YMCA,' 'Last Dance' and others, they took the TD Garden crowd on an eclectic and electric ride. It finished with a blur of a rotational lift in which Chock did a high-speed spin around his waist before being flipped to the ice in a spiraling move they call, 'The Whirlybird.' The crowd began to show its raucous appreciation midway through the lift. Bates found it both incredible but almost unnervingly loud, even though he sensed it was coming by how well the element was going. Advertisement 'It was probably the most fun I've ever had in a competitive performance,' Chock said. It brought them the world's highest rhythm dance score (90.18) in two years and what in ice dance is a comfortable lead (3.74 points) over Canadian rivals Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier going into Saturday's free dance (1:30-5 p.m. ET, Peacock, and 3-5 p.m., USA Network). Without the jumps and throws of singles and pairs, where mistakes can be very costly, there are rarely big swings in ice dance. A smaller lead after the worlds rhythm dance last year (2.56) was enough for Chock and Bates to win the title despite losing the free dance to Gilles and Poirier. 'That's a tough amount of points to catch up on, but we also know that sport is really unpredictable,' Poirier said. Advertisement 'We're certainly not going to take our lead for granted,' Chock said. As two-time reigning world champions, with a home crowd ready to give its full support, Chock and Bates came to Boston with expectation as great as any in their career. 'Pressure is absolutely a privilege and one we've become familiar with,' Chock said. 'We're very grateful, and we appreciate every moment.' Philip Hersh is a special contributor to He has covered figure skating at the last 12 Winter Olympics. ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships - Seoul At figure skating worlds, a U.S.-Canada ice dance story adds a chapter Madison Chock and Evan Bates go for a third consecutive world title, but Canadians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier have momentum.
