While she is ‘losing her apple’, Shannon raises funds to help one learner
Shannon Alston appeals to the community to support her in her quest to help secure a bursary for an underprivileged and top performing student.
“Imagine having great potential but no hope, because you have no means to fulfil your dreams. Everyone has dreams – some bigger than others – and we all deserve to have hope to fulfil our dreams.”
These are the words of Shannon Alston, who is aiming to help charities through a programme she recently joined.
Shannon is part of a 13-week weight-loss programme called Verloor Jou Appel.
“I am on a mission this year to change the future of a less fortunate learner. It started with a weight-loss challenge for a reality show called Verloor Jou Appel, but my focus has changed from being in it to just lose weight to growing the Be Your Dream charity so it can provide an education bursary for an underprivileged learner,” said Shannon.
Shannon explained that the Be Your Dream project is an initiative by Anaïs, artist and ambassador of LifeLine. The project is structured to spread awareness throughout South Africa regarding LifeLine and the free services and counselling they provide for anyone in need.
The initiative is part of the weight-loss project. Contestants have to raise funds for an education bursary for underprivileged top-performing students.
“When I started, I weighed 86.5kg and when I weighed myself in February I was on 78.9kg, which is great. I plan on losing more, but my focus is also on raising as much funds as I can to contribute to the education bursaries,” explained Shannon.
“Before entering, I used to tell my husband that I feel as though something is missing. I felt happy with my family, friends and life in general, but I had the feeling something was missing and since joining the programme, I feel more rejuvenated and love the fact that I get to do something for the less fortunate.”
Shannon said she can’t do it alone and therefore needs the community’s assistance.
“I am appealing to my fellow Kemptonians to support my cause for the Be Your Dream charity.
“All you have to do is SMS Appel Shannon Alston 21 to 32545 after which a Stratcol debit order system consultant will call you back to confirm how much you would like to pledge.
“The pledge is via a debit order to the amount of R50, R75 and R150, but you can choose how long you would like the debit order to be in place. The period of the debit order is entirely up to you. For example, a supporter of mine wanted to donate R1 500 so they set up a debit order of R150 for ten months.
“You can also visit www.stratcol.co.za and choose the Verloor Jou Appel tab at the top of the page and set up the debit order through the website. Don’t forget to choose me as the contestant.”
Shannon has set a goal for herself.
“My goal is to raise R100 000 but I can’t do it on my own so I am humbly asking the citizens of Kempton Park to help me. How else are we going to change the course of our country if not through education?”
You can catch Shannon on DSTV channel 147 on Wednesdays at 1pm (Be Your Dream).
