Intrepid swimmers braved the Indian Ocean on the weekend, competing for the Oceans 8 Charity Swim title while raising almost R900 000 to support local charities. The Oceans 8 Charity Swim, which took place on 16 and 17 June at Durban Undersea Club, welcomed swimmers aged from 11 to 76 years for South Africa’s first warm-water ocean swim for charity.
“I’d like to extend congratulations to all our competitors who swam so well, and for raising such an incredible amount for our deserving local charities,” said Oceans 8 Charity Swim event spokesperson, Hilary Bruss. “What a privilege to enjoy our beautiful beach and ocean for such amazing causes. Together we raised R889,612.25 for charity which just shows that together everyone really does achieve so much more!”
The Oceans 8 Charity Swim, which included a 1 Mile and 8 Mile event, saw Matt Pelser winning all but one event in the 8 mile, with Shane Van de Linde and Jarrod Thorpe fighting it out for 2nd and 3rd position throughout the two days. In the ladies’ category, Robyn Bees won the majority of the events with overall positions changing with every event.
Oceans 8 Charity Swim was started by five NPOs; Duzi Umngeni Conservation Trust (DUCT), the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Project Rhino, Singakwenza, and WILDTRUST to provide a reliable flow of funding to 14 deserving non-profit organisations in and around KwaZulu-Natal.
The top fundraisers for the charities were:
– Singakwenza Early Education – Russell Munroe (R102 610)
– WILDTRUST – Leigh de Necker (R20 078.55)
– NSRI – Steve Evans (R17 045.92)
– Project Rhino – Justin Lockhart (R14 920.45)
– DUCT – Bianca Kritzinger (R8 000.19)
– 1 Mile charities – Jayde Rocher (R3 500)
All funds generated through the 8 Mile swim will support the work of the five main charities, while funds generated by the 1 Mile swim will assist these 9 invitational charities:
1. Adopt-a-River (www.adoptariversa.org)
2. Caversham Education Institute (www.cavershaminstitute.co.za)
3. CROW – The Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (www.crowkzn.co.za)
4. Game Rangers’ Association of Africa (www.gameranger.org)
5. International Sailors’ Society of Southern Africa (www.saiss.co.za)
6. Kerr House (www.kerrhouse.co.za)
7. Liberty NPO (www.libertynpo.co.za)
8. One Planet S.A. (www.oneplanet.org.za)
9. Wildlife ACT (www.wildlifeact.com)
Event organisers thanked main sponsors Discovery, Mr Price Sport and Pick ‘n Pay. Thanks are also extended to SAPPI, ShipTech, Adviceworx, GFP Financial Planning, Aheers Multisave, Overstone Cottages, Afcon Industrial Equipment, Electrical Projects, and LED Urban for making the event possible.
To find out more, visit @oceans8_charityswim on Instagram and oceans8swim on Facebook, or visit www.oceans8swim.co.za.
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Why is the environment important to human kind? The environment is important to human kind because it provides us with the basic necessities of life such as air, water, food and shelter. It also has a direct impact on our physical and mental well-being, as it provides places for recreation and relaxation, and can help to reduce stress. Furthermore, the environment contributes to the overall quality of life, as it helps to regulate the climate, and can affect the health of our economy and communities. Finally, the environment is essential for sustaining the biodiversity of our planet, which is essential for the survival of many species, including humans.
Three examples of how the environment affects human activities?
- Climate Change: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and overfishing are all contributing to global climate change. Climate change has been linked to a range of impacts, from more extreme weather patterns to sea level rise and disruption of food production.
- Air Pollution: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy production, transportation, and industrial processes are a major source of air pollution. This air pollution can cause respiratory problems, acid rain, and crop damage.
- Water Pollution: Human activities such as dumping waste into bodies of water, agricultural runoff, and oil spills can lead to water pollution. This pollution can cause algal blooms, contamination of drinking water, and destruction of aquatic ecosystems.
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