Ryk to swim for malaria
2005-11-04 11:06
Johannesburg - Swimming South Africa (SSA) announced on Thursday its participation in the "World Swim for Malaria" with it's main intention to raise awareness of the disease around the country. The swim is a global event which aims at bringing sports people and communities together in order to raise money to fight Malaria.
SSA executive member Dave Norman is proud that his organisation is associating itself with this very important initiative. Various events around the country will be organised including mass swims and relays in all nine provinces.
The objective of the initiative is to make a contribution by the swimming community in raising awareness on malaria, and to raise funds to boost the malaria prevention programmes on our continent. SSA is committed not only to develop the sport of swimming on the African continent, but also to associate itself with social responsibility programs across the continent, hence the World Swim For Malaria project which is the first social responsibility initiative in which SSA is involved.
Neethling helps to raise awareness
A trust fund, administered by PricewaterhouseCoopers, has been set up although Norman made it clear that the money raised would not be as significant, in terms of world research funds for malaria, as the raising of awareness in combating the disease - a disease which is both preventable and treatable.
The initiative is being supported by various sporting personalities throughout the world, including the 2004 Olympic gold medallist Ryk Neethling. Neethling is very excited about getting involved and is appealing to the community to support this initiative. Neethling will personally appear in a number of the swimming events that will be taking place around the country.
"My job is to get the swimmers out there," said Neethling who has not yet decided how many or in which types of events he will take part.
"Hopefully, I can influence other swimmers to do the same. It is a great opportunity to give back to swimming and to the community as a whole. It's the perfect chance to get involved in a social responsibility project."
Garnering support for the swim
The project is endorsed by the International Federation of Swimming (Fina) and the national health department has also thrown the weight of its support behind this project.
Fina vice-president Sam Ramsamy said the intention is to work with the various health departments so that the organisations compliment each other.
The World Swim Malaria will take place on December 3 worldwide or as near as possible to that date. The money will be raised through entry fees from the participating swimmers. Swimmers who will be participating in the Telkom Virgin Active Swim Challenge Series will also make a personal donation which is will be part of their participation fee.
In Neethling's words, "Let's get out there and let's go swim. See you on December 3 and let's do our part."
- SAPA