Friday 11 October 2024

Hats On for Children’s Palliative Care Day was initiated by the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) in 2014. The second Friday in October, which is normally the day before World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, was chosen as a day for raising international awareness of the work of children’s hospices and children’s palliative care (CPC) services worldwide. Hats On for Children’s Palliative Care will be held this year on Friday 11 October 2024.

Hats On is now in its 11th year

Now in its 11th year, the annual campaign is known as Hats On for Children’s Palliative Care with the hashtag #HatsOn4CPC.

You can donate here to PatchSA through EFT, PayFast, Zapper or Snapscan or just click on the Donate button at the top of this web page.

What is the day about?

The day aims to raise funds for children’s palliative care, but more importantly, to raise awareness of the rights of very sick children with incurable and life-threatening illnesses to receive palliative care.

We know that there are at least 1 million children in South Africa who live with a life-limiting illness or condition that will or could significantly shorten their lives.

The handful of services that exist in our country are underfunded and inadequate to meet the overwhelming need. As a result, thousands of South African children have a poor quality of life and suffer from emotional and physical pain and other distressing symptoms which could be controlled and significantly improved with palliative care. 

Photos from last year’s #HatsOn4CPC Day in South Africa

How do I take part in the #HatsOn4CPC campaign?

We have a number of options for you. Choose the one that suits you and your organisation best.

1. Get involved as an individual

  1. Wear a hat to work or wherever you are on Friday 13 October
  2. Take a photo of yourself in the hat and post it to social media. Tag us @PatchPalliative and use the hashtag #HatsOn4CPC
  3. Donate to PatchSA or a children’s palliative care service of your choice.
You could also:
  • Get your friends together and host your very own Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, share photos on social media and tag @PatchSA. Use the hashtag #HatsOn4CPC
  • Hold a hat making/hat wearing competition with prizes for the winners in different categories, such as most elegant hat, funniest hat, tallest hat, etc.
  • Organize a ‘Funky Hat Day’ at your place of work.

2. Get involved as a school, college class or company

  1. Wear a hat to school, college or work on Friday 11 October
  2. Take a photo of all of you with the hat on and post it to your social media. Tag us @PatchPalliative and use the hashtag #HatsOn4CPC
  3. Donate to PatchSA or a children’s palliative care service of your choice.

3. Get involved as a hospital

  1. Encourage hospital/ward staff (particularly those who work with children) to wear a hat to work on Friday 13 October
  2. Take a photo of all of you with the hat on and post it to your social media. Tag us @PatchPalliative and use the hashtag #HatsOn4CPC
  3. Donate to PatchSA or a local children’s palliative care service of your choice.

4. Get involved as a Children’s Palliative Care service 

Hats On 4 CPC is a wonderful way to raise funds for your charity. To do so follow these 3 simple steps:

  1. Encourage your community (schools, businesses and other organisations) to support your organisation by wearing a hat on Friday 13 October and/or holding a Hats On for CPC event to raise funds for your organisation.
  2. Share your photos on social media with #HatsOn4CPC and tag us using @PatchPalliative

5. Get involved as a Charity

Once again we are holding our annual ‘HatsOn4CPC Charity Competition’. This competition is open to any charity oganisation caring for vulnerable, sick or disabled children or any hospice programme caring for adults and/or children. You could win a cash prize of R2500, R1500 or R1000 for your charity.  

  1. Get your staff to wear hats to work on Friday 13 October. The more original and creative the better!
  2. Take a staff photo and upload it to social media using the hashtag #HatsOn4CPC and tagging us at @PatchPalliative
  3. Send your entry to us using the online competition entry form. See more details and follow the link below.