Bertish to sail 200km for Children’s Trust

AN OPEN-heart surgery survivor plans to brave the rough seas by sailing 200km across False Bay in an 2.5m single-handed children’s sailing dinghy in an attempt to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital Trust.

Greg Bertish, 45, will complete his voyage across False Bay, around Cape Point to Langebaan Lagoon on the West Coast between March 15 and April 30.

The small sailboat that will carry Bertish is referred to as an “Optimist” as it is more commonly used by children under the age of 15 weighing no more than 50kg.

Bertish said he hoped to inspire sick children by undertaking this adventure.

“Too many sick and poor children fight for their lives on a daily basis without believing they can recover and actually go on to living a healthy normal life… I want to give the kids something to believe in. I believe I can do this for thousands of sick and needy kids,” said Bertish.

The father of two from Cape Town underwent two open heart surgeries to remove undiagnosed topical bacteria that attacked his aortic valves in 2001 and 2007.

Although it took at least a year of rehabilitation to recover from the first surgery, the infection returned for the third time.

Bertish spent another 70 days in hos- pital under Intravenous therapy (IV) treatment.

The IV treatment eventually destroyed the bacteria.

“I was lucky. I had a passion for the ocean. While I was in hospital recovering, the ocean and nature inspired me to get back onto my feet.

“All I dreamt about was getting back into water,” said the SA Stand-Up Paddle Surfing champion.

The 200km and R200 000 Bertish plans to raise through his voyage are symbolic of the 200 days he spent in hospital between 2001 and 2007.

“It’s not about the speed and how fast my Little Optimist gets there, as most say he will fail. It’s about trying and believing in yourself enough to know you can succeed or recover from anything.”

The money raised will benefit the Children’s Hospital Trust to help build a paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Red Cross Children’s Hospital.

Last week, the hospital’s fundraising arm launched its campaign to raise R10 million needed to build the R100m ICU.

Each week the Cape Argus, which is in a partnership with the trust, will publish the names of those who have donated over R50 000.

Thus far, more than 200 people, corporates, trusts and foundations have donated to the project, raising R90m.