SA gears up for GWD

GWD founder Belgin Aksoy

Several South African properties are preparing to participate in the eighth annual Global Wellness Day (GWD) celebration, which takes place on Saturday, 8 June at over 5,000 locations in over 150 countries on six continents.

First celebrated in 2012, GWD was established in Turkey as ‘the first day dedicated to living well’ and has now been accepted worldwide.

Says GWD South Africa Ambassador, Celeste Peters: “South Africa is rated as the unhealthiest and most stressed country in the world, so the South Africa GWD team is working towards changing these statistics.

“This year, GWD is focusing on community and we will be collecting clothes, food, toys and much more for those in need. Various sponsors will visit schools to speak about wellness, mindfulness, nutrition and good deeds, as well as visit elderly people’s homes to pamper them with special massages.”

Peters notes that the supporting spa groups include Camelot, Gingko, Amani, Guvon, Isa Castens Academy, The Westin Cape Town, the Taj Hotel Cape Town, Delaire Graff Hotel and Spa, The Drosty Hotel and Spa, The Westcliff Hotel and Spa, The Saxon Hotel and Spa and Fancourt Hotel and Spa in George. In addition, Johannesburg based tech executive, Maureen Grosvernor, will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in August and taking the GWD logo to the summit.

GWD was founded by Turkish business woman and destination spa owner, Belgin Aksoy, who was inspired to launch the initiative after surviving a life-threatening illness. It is her irresistible passion for the cause that has motivated over 100 volunteer ambassadors, advisors and supporters to help make her dream a reality across the globe.

The GWD caveat is that the annual events organised each year need to be three things: educational, non-commercial and complementary, since Aksoy’s motivating belief is that wellness is not a luxury but the inherit right of every individual.

New to the roster of participating countries this year are: Zimbabwe,China, Kenya, Cayman Islands, Peru and Dominican Republic.

For more information about participating in GWD in South Africa, email Celeste Peters on celeste.peters@globalwellnessday.org or call 083 984 7112.