GET THEM WHILE THEY ARE STILL HOT…

Time is running out for Lunch with Your Favourite Celebrity

If you have not yet placed your bid, your once in a lifetime opportunity of dining alongside South Africa’s glitterati is slowly slipping away. The online auction of celebrities in aid of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group will end this week Wednesday at 1 p.m.

Twenty of South Africa’s hottest names from the world of sport, business, music and entertainment have all been participating in an online auction to help prevent teenage suicide in South Africa. The list of celebrities includes Mark Shuttleworth, Tim Modise, Johnny Clegg, Naas Botha, Hugh Masekela, Fanie de Villiers, Cyril Ramaphosa, Sandra Prinsloo, Colin Moss, Ollie le Roux, Stefan Terblanche, Basetsana Kumalo, Andrew McLean, Danny K, Doctor Khumalo, Sibongile Khumalo, Alan “Chubby” Ford, Baby Jake, Adrian Gore, Kerry McGregor, Bob Skinstad, Robbie Fleck and Piet Dixon.

These celebrities have generously agreed to donate two hours of their time to dine with the highest bidder, along with four guests of the bidder’s choice. The winning bidder will select the restaurant in consultation with the celebrity’s management and will be responsible for the bill. However, in return, the winning bidder and his/her guests will have the unparalleled opportunity of asking all the questions they have ever thought of asking their favourite celebrity. Ask Mark about his trip into space, or find out who Naas thinks will win the Rugby World Cup. Stare into the eyes of Colin Moss or find out how difficult it is for Kerry McGregor to be in every man’s fantasies.

Leading bidders at this stage include Mark Shuttleworth (who has even agreed to cook lunch and match the winning bid up to R10 000!), Naas Botha, Sandra Prinsloo, Cyril Ramaphosa and Kerry McGregor. All the funds raised from this exciting online auction will go towards the SADAG’s teenage suicide prevention programme, “Suicide Shouldn’t be a Secret”. Current statistics show that 8% of all deaths in South Africa are a result of suicide. The situation has become critical. Children as young as 10 years old are attempting and tragically succeeding at killing themselves. The work of the SADAG towards reducing the shocking numbers of young people killing themselves is crucial, and the fact that twenty of South Africa’s very busy celebrities could make themselves available for this fundraiser attests to the importance of this issue.

“I would think that so often we don’t hear the voice of a teenager. We don’t hear their desperate cries for help and although I would be the first one to advocate the acceptance of death as part of life’s cycle, there seems to be something infinitely sad about terminating ones life at such an early stage. So if in any way I can at least help raise peoples’ awareness about teenage suicide and the necessity to address this growing tragedy I am there and willing”, says Sandra Prinsloo, well-known South African stage and screen actress.

Bidding is rapidly drawing to close, so you better dig deep and bid for your favourite celebrity before you miss out. To place your bid, visit www.anxiety.org.za or call 083 910 2222. For more information call the South African Depression and Anxiety Group on 011 783 1474.