CLUBFOOT AWARENESS WEEK 3-9 June, read more

FEMINA MAGAZINE

Karen and Alexander in Femina Magazine - November 2006
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Steps South Africa has had media exposure on TV (SABC 1, 2, 3), magazines (Femina, TLC, Your Baby) and Radio (SAFM, 702, Cape Talk). We have operated info stands at Baby & Child shows in venues such Gallagher Estate and the Coca Cola Dome.

Our patron is Bernelee Losch (neé Daniell), Miss South Africa in 1995. Bernelee was born with a clubfoot and had surgery when she was a baby. She overcame this to win beauty contests and is an inspiration for anyone with a lower limb disorder. It's an amazing fact that throughout her reign, no one noticed that she had a scar on her leg. She started telling people about her scar and her foot when they were anxious about their own perceived physical imperfections.

"I was born with a club foot. I have a scar from ankle to knee and I never cover it. I modelled at the National Lingerie Show in Europe and no one ever noticed it. My one leg is thinner than the other and I have to put cotton wool in my right shoe because that foot is so much smaller than the other. I had surgery and 100 stitches when I was four months old. I had to wear a steel brace when I went to sleep and funny shoes when I went to school. But I never put make-up over my scar. I work around it." Bernelee says.

Steps Charity is affiliated to Steps Charity Worldwide which has been in operation since 1980s, www.steps-charity.org.uk. They provide advice, support and information to help build Steps in South Africa. We share the same code of ethics. More countries are establishing Steps Charities so that we can work together for common goals.

We continue to grow media exposure and public awareness through a marketing plan developed by our publicist. This plan includes charity events, an annual Steps Ponseti Clubfoot Seminar for doctors and therapists with visiting international doctors, an annual Steps sports event, "Pedi-Cure", a celebrity foot art auction, our website and trade shows.