RESPECT to all our 2015 Swim for Hope HEROES!! ~ Little Fighters Cancer Trust

Billi_@ LFCT16th Apr 2015Blog, News & Events, Swim for Hope0 comments

After months of preparation and weeks of being on standby waiting for the perfect weather conditions, Swim for Hope 2015 eventually took place on Monday 13th April, and WHAT a swim it was! Above are the amazing Swim for Hope 2015 Swimmers who took part in Monday’s courageous and dramatic 8km rounding of Cape Point in an absolutely freezing 12 degrees.

Carina Bruwer started Swim for Hope in aid of the Little Fighters Cancer Trust with a solo rounding of Cape Point in 2013, 6 years after having retired from open-water swimming. This incredibly determined and brave open-water swimmer, who holds many international open-water swimming records, some of which are under the auspices of Swim for Hope, completed 6 grueling kilometers of Monday’s Cape Point Swim in the excellent time of 1H45 before the cold took its toll on her and she was extracted from the water with severe hypothermia.

Carina was immediately wrapped in warm, dry blankets and towels and transported to dry land where she was quickly transferred into our “mobile sauna” where she recovered rapidly, although we are sure it did not feel all that quick! Carina could barely sit up straight, but kept on stuttering apologies between clenched jaws while shivering. SO dedicated is this woman to this cause that is so close to her heart, that one of her first coherent thoughts was that she had let Little Fighters Cancer Trust and the rest of the swimmers down. Carina, you could NEVER let us down. Your tenacity and strength, your passion and your selflessness are LEGEND!! We are extremely proud of you, enormously thankful for your selflessness and appreciate your dedication more than you could even begin to imagine; without YOU there would be NO Swim for Hope.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Hear Ye! Hear YE! Let it be known that Anthony Pearse OWNED the Cape Point swim! He came in at 1H46, equalling the record he set @ Swim for Hope 2014. This year’s swim was undertaken under much tougher conditions that last year though, so HATS OFF to Anthony! Ant, THANK YOU for being a part of the Swim for Hope 2015 Team; your spirit and dedication is much appreciated.

For Colin Gluch, one of our Johannesburg-based Swim for Hope Team Members, this was his second Swim for Hope; a mere two days after having completed the Freedom Swim around Robben Island! Colin clocked in at 2H13, about 35 minutes slower than his Swim for Hope 2014, which is an excellent time in the much tougher conditions our swimmers had to contend with this year. Colin, thank you for your undying enthusiasm and can-do attitude!

Neil Ralphs Charl Cilliers and Clinton le Sueur

This trio of Swim for Hope 2015 swimmers had an absolute blast around Cape Point! Neil Ralphs, one of our Johannesburg based Swimmers, finished his first Cape Point swim in 2H25, with Charl Cilliers and Clinton le Sueur both clocking in at 2H36. Thank you so very much Charl, Clint and Neil, your spirit and camaraderie added much to this event!

Johan Wegner also did his very first Cape Point swim with Swim for Hope 2015, and clocked in at 2H40. Johan, thank you for being a part of the Swim for Hope 2015 Team. Your positive attitude and your willingness to assist with anything, is much appreciated.

Martin Vleggaar participated in his second consecutive Swim for Hope as well, and clocked in at 2H48. Martin was a great help at the Diaz start, assisting with calling the waves. Martin, thank you so much for stepping in with your expertise and your kind help to all.

Our Eastern Cape Swimmers, Kendal Wright and Brenton Williams clocked in at 3H33. Kendal is only 18 years of age, and Swim for Hope 2015 was his first Cape Point attempt, which he managed like the pro he is. Congratulations Kendal on becoming the youngest open water swimmer to have ever successfully rounded Cape Point!

Flying Cape Point To all the budding pilots out there, this is how you “fly” around Cape Point ~Posted by BigBayEvents

Brenton did the ENTIRE Cape Point Swim in the least swum and most taxing Butterfly Stroke, which was breathtaking to watch. This was also the first time ever that Cape Point has been conquered in Butterfly!

Kendal and Brenton, you guys simply rocked Cape Point. Thank you for adding the uniqueness of your individual swims to Swim for Hope 2015.

Johannesburg based Richard Child completed his second consecutive Swim for Hope around Cape Point, and Capetonian, Anthony Sellmeyer took part in his first, but hopefully not last, Swim for Hope. Richard and Tony both clocked 3H35 in harsh conditions. Richard and Tony, you gentlemen added so much laughter and kindness to Swim for Hope 2015, and we salute you!

Maura Sanderoff has been dreaming about swimming Cape Point for a long time. As a childhood cancer survivor who lost her leg due to the disease, this swim was extra special for her. Maura’s first words after enduring the cold water and icy conditions for 4H40 was, “This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life” with tears streaming down her face and pride shining brightly through the exhaustion. Maura, thank you for sticking it out for all that time. It shows exactly what you are made of. You are an INSPIRATION to all of us! (And now YOU are one of the Big Guns!)

Lindsay de Kock simply does not know that the word “quit” even exists in the English vocabulary. This tough as nails woman has earned the respect of the open water swimming community over and over. Lindsay is also a second year running Swim for Hope Team Member, and a passionate Little fighters Cancer Trust Supporter. Clocking in at 4H53, the stinging jellyfish in her costume was the least of the many challenges she braved unwaveringly. This, after having done the Freedom Swim around Robben Island just two days prior to Swim for Hope!

Lindsay, you are simply amazing. Walking out after all of that smiling, joking and as if you just did a few laps in a heated pool….there is nothing we can say, except, RESPECT.

Theodore Yach, renowned Cape Town based open-water swimmer, who regrettably could not take part in yesterday’s Swim for Hope, completed his 90th Robben Island Crossing this past Sunday! (Yes, NINETY, that was not a typo!) In celebration of this incredible accomplishment, Theo has made a very generous donation toward Swim for Hope’s Fundraising effort, getting us quite a few steps closer to target! Theo, thank you ever so much. Your Support and passion for both open water swimming and our cause is most admirable, and much appreciated! Thank you also to our other Swimmers who regrettably could not participate on Monday: Karon Marx Toni Enderli Justin Coetzee

We are still raising funds for the 2015 Swim For Hope Project!

PLEASE take the opportunity to honour the hard work and sacrifice of these awesome swimmers by donating to the cause for which they did all this!

We are still off target by about R90 000, so please help the Swim for Hope 2015 Team by donating, SMSing and sharing.

Corporate Donations

Directly to Little Fighters Cancer Trust Contact: Mandie Erasmus, 073 729 6155 or mandie@littlefighters.org.za LFCT is a fully registered NPO with PBO status and a Level 4 BBEEE Contributor, which means that companies who donate as part of their annual CSI/CSR portfolios will receive the maximum in Section 18A and BBEEE benefits.

Private Donations

Donate on the Swim for HOPE website by clicking on this button…

Or click on one of these links

You can also offer your support with a once-off SMS donation Sms SWIM to 40770 (R20/sms)

Just a reminder:

THIS is what you are donating towards when you donate to Swim for Hope

All money raised will go towards the Little Fighters Cancer Trust’s BAG OF HOPE Project.

A BAG OF HOPE provides essentials for both the Child with Cancer and his/her mother or bedside caregiver, with items such as toiletries, pyjamas, non-perishable food, educational toys, blankets and sanitary products, making a challenging and prolonged hospital stay just a bit more comfortable.