Fit for donations

KNYSNA - After a successful drive in 2020, the owners of a local physical fitness centre, Elmo Scholtz and Marius Barnard, decided to elect Sunridge Primary School as the beneficiary of this year's back-to-school donation.

Last year, Barnard and Scholtz initiated a back-to-school collection drive at their gym after seeing the gratitude of an employee they had helped by holding a much smaller stationery collection initiative for her child.

They decided to do the drive on a much larger scale and roped in the assistance of their gym members. Once the drive was concluded, they dropped off their donations at Concordia Primary School.

"The appreciation that Concordia showed last year made us realise that this type of thing is needed at some schools in our area," Barnard says. This year, they decided to hold the drive once more and ask for a few additional supplies. "Because of the pandemic, schools' needs have changed a little so they don't only need stationery but masks and sanitiser too." They once again called on their gym members to help donate stationery, and in addition received a donation of sanitiser and face masks from Premier Resort Hotel The Moorings.

This year, they chose Sunridge Primary School in Hornlee as the beneficiary of their donation for a very personal reason. "One of our managers used to attend the school, and we thought it would be special to help them out," Barnard explained.

Fariedt Christians completed his primary school career at Sunridge in 2005, and a few of his teachers are still at the school. "Coming from a small town like Knysna and from humble beginnings, it was such a great honour to be part of the team and to give back to the school which has helped instil great values in me to help become the person that I am today," Christians said.

Scholtz and Barnard hope to make the collection drive an annual event and call on local businesses to take part and assist where possible. To get in touch, you can visit the KFit centre at 8 New Street in Knysna, or contact them on 044 382 1774.

Photo: Blake Linder At the back are co-owner of KFit Marius Barnard alongside Sunridge learner Tylor Quanson, and in front are Sunridge alumnus and KFit manager Fariedt Christians and Sunridge vice-principal Salvin Hannie.