Survivors set to take on Great Optimist Race
A GROUP of survivors who have undergone various traumatic experiences will be participating in the world’s first Great Optimist Race this year at the Cape Town International Boat Show. It will be held at the V&A Waterfront on October20 at noon.
The event will host 50 celebrities, chief executives and a diverse range of survivors.
The survivors in the Charity Boat Race will include Achmat Hassiem, who survived a shark attack but lost his right leg in 2006 while rescuing his brother. He has also represented South Africa at the Paralympics.
Tanya Bothma, who struggled to breathe with 14% lung capacity after experiencing numerous complications during her birth. She received a new set of lungs in December last year, and it has been a challenging journey ever since. She still has the courage to compete in the race, and her funds will be raised for organ donations.
Hilton Swanson, a former lifesaving champion, had a stroke in 2002. But he persevered and was able to rebuild his life. He will also be participating with the aim of raising funds for the Clifton Lifesaving Club.
Other competitors include Kevin Wright and Adam Klopper, who are survivors of pancreas cancer, and Conn Bertish, another survivor of cancer.
Celebrities such as musician Arno Carstens, former supermodel Josie Borain, and DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen will also participate .
All survivors will be sailing to raise funds for charity. The participants will sail along the waters of the V&A Waterfront in children’s boats. They have all experienced difficulties and the purpose of this event is to raise awareness among those who have undergone health problems and feel that they are not capable of achieving their goals.
The race’s brainchild, Greg Bertish, a big wave surfer and charity campaigner, hopes that underprivileged and ill children will be inspired by the event and the survivors partaking in it, as many of them have never sailed before.
Funds raised will be divided between the survivors and The Little Optimist Trust, for the development of a sailing academy for children from poverty-stricken areas. In addition to the charities involved in the event, Bertish aims to raise a further R200 000 for the sailing academy with the aim of keeping children off the streets and teaching them to sail.
Other charities involved in the event include The Newborns Groote Schuur Trust, NSRI, Shark Spotters, Two Oceans Aquarium and Cancer Dojo. |