Fancy a swim with Ryk?
2007-04-19 09:52
Danel Blaauw
Johannesburg - Sharing thoughts over a cup of tea with Madiba, a private swimming lesson with Olympic swimming hero Ryk Neethling or a weekend breakaway in the bushveld with Kurt Darren.
These are but a few of the unforgettable moments that successful internet bidders will be able to share with local and international heroes, in aid of a mammoth charity project.
The MasterCard Priceless Moments charity auction was launched on Tuesday at the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa (WSPCCA) at Sunninghill Hospital, in Johannesburg.
Half of the proceeds will go to the WSPCCA and the remainder will be shared by six organisations for children in Africa.
Advocate Dawie Crous, trustee of the South African Children's Trust says the goal is to collect R30m for charities.
South African and international entertainers have agreed to throw their weight behind the giant charity auction.
The "special moments" with favourite stars will be auctioned globally on the internet in May.
Negotiations are well advanced to get scores of international stars on board with South Africa's famous elder statesman Nelson Mandela.
Penélope Cruz, Oscar nominee, has already agreed to support the project.
Tea with Mandela
Michael Mol, Top billing-presenter, Afrikaans singer Kurt Darren and the Grammy- and Sama-winners, the Soweto Gospel Choir, attended the launch at Sunninghill hospital.
Lucas Radebe, Mol, Baby Jake Matlala, Natalie du Toit, Whitey Basson, Suzette van der Merwe, Mark Fish and Shaun Pollock are among the personalities who have agreed to donate a moment of their lives via the eBay auction.
The auction will run for ten days from May 14 at www.eBay.com.
One of the favourites is expected to be tea with Mandela, with Albertina Sisulu, the widow of Walter Sisulu, as the hostess.
Madiba is the patron of the WSPCCA, which is described as a living monument to the late the freedom fighter Walter Sisulu.
The first charity auction on eBay was last year when Madiba and former US President Bill Clinton visited the hospital together.
The auction this year will be launched with a gala dinner in Sandton on May 14.
- Beeld