Vitality members give children the joy of a teddy bear
Children at Kids Haven in Benoni were the first to each receive one of 14 500 teddy bears which are being donated to organisations across the country, thanks to Vitality members reaching their weekly fitness goals in December.
Late in 2015, Discovery challenged members of Vitality Active Rewards to reach their exercise goal to earn an extra reward and have the option of enjoying an ice cream or donating a teddy bear to a child in need. Three times more members selected to donate a teddy bear to a child than those who chose to enjoy an ice cream for themselves.
Vitality Active Rewards was launched in September last year in an effort to promote and increase physical activity. The programme gives participants personalised, weekly fitness goals which are adjusted based on their progress, and rewards them for achieving their weekly goals with a free drink at KAUAI or vida e caffé.
Discovery Vitality’s Chief Executive Officer, Shrey Viranna explains that there has been an average 25% increase in physical activity among the 125 000 plus Vitality members who have activated Vitality Active Rewards since it launched. “This significant increase in activity levels shows the power of finding positive rewards to encourage the right behaviour,” he says.
“It is inspiring to see how many of our members participated and chose to give a teddy bear to children in need. We have been overwhelmed by the number of teddy bears raised and delighted to expand the number of recipient charities to reach 14 500 children,” Viranna says.
The teddy bears are being distributed to 20 organisations supported by Discovery, namely:
Kids Haven
Women and Men against child abuse
Kgosi Neighbourhood Foundation
Afrika Tikkun
CHOC (Baragwanath and Charlotte Maxeke hospitals)
Meals on Wheels
Ezazi Primary School (Grade R)
HOMAC
Refilwe Community Project
Durban Child and Youth Care centre
African Children’s Feeding Scheme
Klapkorn Children’s Centre
Jo’burg Child Welfare
Afrikkaanse Christelike Vroue Vereeniging (ACVV)
Alexandra Health Centre & University Clinic
Home of Hope
Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital
Leliebloem House
Mamelodi West Clinic
The Smile Foundation
Moira Simpson, founder of Kids Haven, thanked Discovery and all its members for the delivery of teddy bears for children who attend their creche and said: “The children we offer care to come from difficult circumstances and many have not known stability. Toys and play time help them to engage with topics, to spark their imaginations and to interact with others. Teddy bears are naturally comforting and we are thrilled to be able to give every child in our care one.”
