Join the Wollies for the biggest ‘Sleepathon’ in September
“The Sleepathon is a fun way for humans and animals to meet in a safe space and interact.”
Giving humans a first-hand experience of what shelters go through and creating awareness of the importance of adoption, is the inspiration behind the annual Wollies “Sleepathon”.
After a two-year break due to Covid-19, the Wollies animal shelter will be hosting their annual Sleepathon fundraiser on the night of September 3 to raise funds to care for the animals.
Wollies director Charmaine Swanepoel said that giving people an insight into shelter animals’ living conditions for just 24 hours could compel people to stop supporting breeders and opt for adoptions instead.
“The Sleepathon is a fun way for humans and animals to meet in a safe space and interact. Once all the participants arrive, they are allocated an enclosure where they get to meet the companions that they will spend the night with.
“We ask each sleepathoner to bring food such as chicken and rice or mince and rice for their companions.
There is also a 24-hour coffee station where sleepathoners can help themselves to coffee. For those who want to braai can do so at the braai facility outside the shelter.
The first Wollies Sleepathon took place in 2015 with only 25 sleepathoners.
Their numbers, however, grew every year and in 2019 they had 421 sleepathoners supporting the initiative.
The organisation is currently home to over 1 000 animals that are looking for loving homes.
“Most of the animals we take in daily usually are injured. They have an illness or suffer from long-term abuse that requires medical treatment.
“We also use five municipal wheelie bins per day for the dogs and two municipal wheelie bins for the cats. The funds raised will be used to cover medical expenses and buy food and blankets for the animals.”
Swanepoel added that anyone was welcome to join the Sleepathon. Those who cannot afford the entry fee are welcome to give their time as people have sponsored enclosures.
“We have a lot of enclosures still available. We are trying to have humans in every single enclosure so that all our animals get loved on the day.”
For further information, please contact Charmaine at 072 439 9555 or 12stepcs@gmail.com.
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