Centurion teen using autoimmune disorder to support the needy

A teenager from Centurion has turned her autoimmune disorder into an opportunity to help the less fortunate and people in need around the city.

Imairre Lloyd (17) a matric learner from Hoërskool Zwartkop is not only a role model to her peers, but she has a crown to prove it.

“Kindness, it is a simple way to tell another struggling soul that there is love to be found in this world.”

This is the motto Imairre lives by, especially because she knows what it feels like to be different.

She was diagnosed with Scarring Alopecia Areata in 2017.

“In October 2020 I was crowned Teen Role Model RSA 2020-2021 during the Mini Miss RSA pageant, and I will be representing South Africa on an international platform in 2022.

“I decided to start using my modelling platform to be an inspiration and a helping hand in my community, as well as creating awareness about Alopecia Areata.”

Imairre decided to use her platform to be a support system for others like her.

“We are currently working on the Bracelet of Hope #blueforalopecia project to raise awareness and educate people about Alopecia Areata.

“This disorder tells your body to dislike your hair and causes your hair to fall out. By the grace of God I am in remission now for the last two years, I now have long and healthy hair.”

Imairre also suffers from Dyslexia, making it even harder to perform well in school.

“I believe that when something is out of your control, it should not keep you from being the best version of yourself and shouldn’t stop you from chasing your dreams.

“With the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown in 2020 something as simple as stationery supplies for school children became a financial strain on so many people,” she said.

“With the help of donations we received from Mrs Gauteng 2021, Jaci Tibbit, and my pocket money we were able to assist a few mums in the less fortunate communities around Centurion with a few stationery supplies to start the year of.

“Each school-going child received two notebooks, a basic stationery starter pack, highlighters, colouring pencils, a ruler and a lunch box. For the high school learners we included a mathematics set and an extra notebook. It is not much but every little bit helps,” she told Rekord.

Imairre is also involved with a charity called Jars of Hope that aims to feed the homeless in winter time.

“We collect empty coffee jars and create soup jars out of them, one jar of hope can be a full meal for a family of four. Your ‘something old’ is ‘someone else’s new’.

“I’m also working on an initiative to collect second-hand clothes and toys to give to the needy and I also worked on the Take a Break jar project where we gave a jar filled with treats to frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

If that isn’t an already impressive list of charities to be involved with Imairre also has her hands deep in the Hennops Revival project, headed by Tarryn Johnston.

“I have been participating in the river clean-ups since 2019 and have since learned a lot about recycling and the importance of keeping our rivers clean,” she said.

“The river runs through us and it is our job to keep it clean. I have a massive love and respect for nature and this was my first ever charity project that I started to get involved with.

“This is also a very important project for my family, and we all have an immense amount of respect for what Tarryn is doing,” she added.

In her spare time, Imairre likes to be a normal and healthy teenager. She participates in swimming and hockey at school. She also has a Border Collie named Hailey that she hangs out with over the weekends.

“I have many goals for the future and I still have a long way to go but each act of kindness changes someone’s life for the better. I want to create a better place for the youth and be a helping hand, supporting them through daily struggles. I want to be someone that makes everybody feel like ‘a somebody’,” she concluded.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram