By Peggie Mars
Founder, Wheel Well – Child Road Safety NGO

Winter has arrived in South Africa with a vengeance. As snow caps our major mountain ranges and a bitter cold spell settles over the country, many underprivileged children are facing the elements without basic warmth. But for these children, the cold isn’t the only danger: visibility on our roads is a matter of life and death.

In South Africa, pedestrian crashes are the leading cause of injury death for children under 14. In 2024 alone, 734 child pedestrians lost their lives. That is two children every single day.

A Simple, Life-Saving Solution

At Wheel Well, we believe every child deserves to be seen and protected. Our Halo Beanie project provides a passive yet powerful solution: a hand-knitted beanie made with specialized reflective yarn.

• 360-Degree Visibility: Reflective gear reduces the risk of a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle by 85%.
• Essential Warmth: These beanies provide critical protection and warmth for young children and babies.
• Freedom to Play: Unlike bulky gear, beanies don’t restrict a child’s movement in shared community spaces.

Celebrating Our Partners: Supa Quick

We are thrilled to announce that Supa Quick has stepped up to sponsor 30 Halo Beanie bags! Their generous contribution is already putting these life-saving garments into the hands of those who need them most.

Behind every bag, there is a heart at work; currently, dedicated knitters across the country are “knitting up a storm” to turn this support into reality. These talented knitting and crochet groups are the engine of this project, using reflective yarn to create safety for our youth.

How You Can Help

We have passionate knitting and crochet groups ready to work, but we need more materials to keep the momentum going.

• Sponsor a Beanie Pack: For R3000, you can sponsor a complete “Beanie Pack”.
• The Impact: Each pack contains enough reflective yarn, wool, and patterns to ensure the safety and warmth of at least 100 children.
• Join a Knitting Group: If you are part of a knitting or crochet circle and want to contribute your skills, we want to hear from you.

Let’s Light Up the Dark

75% of fatal pedestrian crashes occur at dawn, dusk, or night-time. By sponsoring a pack, you aren’t just buying wool; you are giving a child a “halo” of visibility that could save their life.

Ready to make a difference? Contact Peggie Mars at 072 385 7121 or email peggie@wheelwell.co.za to sponsor a pack or join our knitting community.

Together, we can ensure our children are safe, seen, and warm.

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