South Africa’s Keith Boyd (Rainbow Runner) signed up for a mammoth ‘jog’ last year in July—the Cape to Cairo trek. With thousands of kilometres behind him, legs that are tired but a heart that’s determined, he is closer to Egypt than ever before, and still sharing words of positivity and insight along the way:

Sudan (05 March 2024) — South Africa’s Rainbow Runner Keith Boyd embarked on a mammoth jog in July last year after he left Cape Town on the long road to Cairo.

With conversations around election season in full swing in our home country, Keith’s reason for being on this continental odyssey becomes even more relevant. He became the Rainbow Runner to quite literally go the extra mile in encouraging active citizenship and voter participation (not for any single political party but rather the ethos of democracy), especially for young people.

And despite the many turns his path has taken (including being held at gun point en-route to the finish line) it’s a message he’s still willing to risk it all for.

But the end is near for the Rainbow Runner who had dusted well over 7000 kilometres in February. With a resilient heart, Keith has made it to Sudan, Egypt’s border country.

During Keith’s travels, he has been his followers’ eyes and ears on what other African countries are dealing with.

“The deepest challenges aren’t physical. They’re what I’ve witnessed in the people and societies they live in,” he shared.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Keith Boyd (@rainbowrunnerza)

With a willingness to discover as his guide, Keith is bringing an even bigger message to those who know of his trek—perspective. Lessons we can learn from other cultures, and how this run isn’t about one person or one dream of active citizenship, but a nation and a continent.

While the end dates for Keith’s run are not set in stone, his last update tapped in on day 217. He praised the Sudanese people for having “kindness of the highest order” and urged people to send prayers for the war they are facing.

Keith’s initial target was to finish the Rainbow Run in 280 days which could also set a world record. But even without world records, the dedication he’s made to South Africa’s future by encouraging people in the most epic way to remember that we can shape this future is an achievement worth its weight in accolades.

All the best for the final pushes Keith! You can keep up with his journey here.

Sources: Rainbow Runner

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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In another example of why age is but a number and never something that should hold anyone back from going after their goals, powerhouse Gill Tregenna (who is in her 80s) has broken a world walking record!

Cape Town, South Africa (04 March 2024) — Gill Tregenna has just etched her name into the history books after she cracked a world walking record and left a trail of inspiration behind her.

At Athletics South Africa’s South African Champs held in Cape Town on Saturday, Gill saddled up to compete in the 80-85 category’s twenty-kilometre walk.

Putting the power in a power walk, the member of the Westville Athletic Club didn’t just make herself and her club proud, but South Africa after she made international victory with her new world walking record.

A treasure of an achievement at any age, Gill’s moment is even more significant considering all the inspiration we are sure her determination will impart to anyone who has ever thought that age restricts achievements.

No stranger to achievements (many of which have been in the past few years) in 2023, Gill competed in the African Masters Championship, came first and broke the South African 10km record for her division by a whopping two minutes. And a few years before that, she won the Athletics South Africa Champs’ 10km which led her to hold the title of the fastest female in South Africa for her age group!

Meanwhile, in other news of determined female South African athletes doing history-making things, Amber Fillary broke three Guinness World Records in the space of two days in a must-read series of achievements. 

Sources: Website submission; Westville Athletic Club 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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In incredible international news, a widow who was left a fortune has decided to donate $1 billion dollars to fund medical students’ tuition! Full story:

New York City, USA (29 February 2024) — It’s not every day that a widow receives a billionaire’s fortune. But it’s even rarer to learn that she would make the decision to donate $1 billion (over 19 billion rand) to fund medical students’ tuition. Well, in a literal wealth of good news from New York City, this is exactly what happened thanks to Dr Ruth Gottesman.

Ruth Gottesman is the widow of David ‘Sandy’ Gottesman—a billionaire who made a big part of his fortune by investing in Bershire Hathaway Inc. It is believed that this saw him quietly reach a net worth of around $3 billion in his lifetime.

When David passed away, his wife of over seven decades was reportedly left with the stock David had and instructions.

“Do whatever you think is right with it,” the instructions said as per Forbes.

93-year-old Ruth got to thinking about what she could do and found the answer in her roots. Ruth is a former professor of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, based in New York City’s Bronx. Knowing the institution and its student’s challenges well; Ruth returned to her old professional stomping ground with a once-in-a-lifetime gift: a donation that would change the futures of students in a way that has never been seen before in the United States medical school history. Ruth decided to donate the $1 billion so that medical students would have their college tuition covered. Historically, tuition at the college will now be free; and no student will have to pay tuition costs in the future either! Not to mention, all spring tuition will be reimbursed, as the college shared.

“I am profoundly grateful to Dr. Gottesman for this historic and transformational gift. I believe we can change healthcare history when we recognize that access is the path to excellence. With this gift, Dr. Gottesman will fund excellence in perpetuity and secure our foundational mission of advancing human health,” said Philip O. Ozuah, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of Montefiore Einstein.

Dr Gottesman has only added to her legacy of impact with this gift. While she was working at Einstein’s Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Centre, she was a huge force in developing screening and help for children with learning problems. In the ’90s, she began the Adult Literacy Programme and continued her work in treating learning disabilities and, alongside David, created an institution for stem cell research.

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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What do mannequins, art, environmental activism and a passion for humanity all have in common? Artivist Natania Botha and her incredible story:

Global (26 February 2024) — Looking back on it now, artivist Natania Botha’s first important encounter with mannequins was a nuanced note of foreshadowing. Of course, she hardly knew then that one day, the humble task of dressing mannequins at a local retailer would later spark something possibly world-changing—both for the artist and the environment she’s dedicated her life to. But, no good story ever begins with a clearly paved path.

A Backstory Beginning in Brits

A teenager in her hometown of Brits, Natania moved into the ‘real world’ quickly after life’s responsibilities thrust her into the workforce. She had to leave school behind and pick up a job, which meant finishing up her education at night. Said job happened to be at Woolworths, where Natania first met her future canvases—mannequins.

Natania notes a connection to the objects we so often take at surface value. For her, they were and are a “symbolic reflection of the human form.” Not only would they eventually become an imperative part of her craft, but her time at the retailer taught her a unique appreciation for a key seed: visual representation.

Says Natania, “The act of transforming store displays became a canvas for my creativity, laying the groundwork for future endeavours.”

At 19, Natania left Brits behind to make her way to the big city—Pretoria. This was her leap into a new world, a corporate world where once again, inklings of the future presented themselves in subtle ways.

Working in sales as a manager, she was afforded the opportunity to travel and connect her to different ways of life and experiences of humanity, another key seed.

With these two key experiences seeded in her soul, a walk on the beach in Durban’s bluff would plant the third pivotal seed moment and the one that catapulted everything into action.

The Impact Years

“As I strolled along the beach, I was confronted with a distressing sight—the shoreline blanketed in plastic waste,” Natania recalls of the life-changing moment in 2017.

An immediate resolve was spurred in her to address the environmental crisis in front of her, and so she initiated all her might to mobilise resources and citizens and raise awareness.

Natania’s efforts mattered. In fact, they became a movement big enough to earn her recognition from the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), followed by her later appointment as the Head of Membership.

Her role as an environmental and social change activist had taken form, and soon her touch began to weave its way all over the country and into rooms with global communities of environmental doers and thinkers.

Natania became a voice for South Africa when she represented us at the Africa Youth Conference in 2018 and a crafter of the future when she helped launch the Sustainable Development Goals Classroom.

By 2020, she had sculpted her position in South Africa’s green entrepreneurship support through Indalo Inclusive. Here, she was the brain behind important building blocks for programmes, including a collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) focused on capturing on-the-ground environmental initiatives.

Her accomplishments in environmental spheres grew—she was one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans and one of 12 Leading Women in CSI in 2021 among others—but these are only glimpses of the mark she’s made when it comes to both social and environmental upliftment.

Come 2022, Natania embarked on another massive journey to document the impacts of climate change for the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Climate Promise. This odyssey took her across the country as far as the Richtersveld, where she spent time documenting and filming the wonders and woes of South Africa.

While she affectionately notes it was not a journey for the faint of heart, it certainly brought about an unending appreciation for South Africa’s diverse landscape.

“The stars at night look so different when you do a cat scan of the universe,” she adds.

Putting the Art in Earth

With her role as an environmental thinker and leader imprinted on South Africa, Natania began thinking about different ways to share the messages guiding her path.

Connecting the dots between visual strength, humanity, the environment and her 2022 adventure, she became enthralled to water her passion for art—the ultimate medium for such multifaceted experiences.

Her voice and experiences married in the form of mosaic mannequins sculptured to the sounds of classical piano. One became 40, and 40 became her first collection—’Reflections of Resilience’.

Much like South Africa’s people and landscapes, the differences in the works —right down to the tiniest mosaic tile—unite them as a collective symphony Natania explains as her heart laid bare. Individually, there are broken pieces like tired parts of a heart working endlessly to restore nature and humanity. But together, they are visual resilience.

Her mannequin masterpieces—a kaleidoscope of colours and textures—you might’ve guessed, are fused with meaning. If you pay attention, you’ll find odes to David Bowie and William Yeats. But mostly, you’ll find an ode to the Earth, present even in her material choices.

“The very materials I utilise reflect a deliberate choice to counter the detrimental impacts of fast fashion…mannequins play a pivotal role in perpetuating this cycle,” the artivist explains, adding that by incorporating antiques like tea cups, vases and plates sourced from around the world and locally, she is able to breathe life into what would’ve otherwise ended up in landfills. 

‘The opus of the collection—The Last Correspondent’—stood as a plea to world leaders for transformation in eco and social justice—just as the mannequins had been transformed. Fittingly, it was presented to the United Nations upon completion.

But, Reflections of Resilience is also a call to all of us.

A prized set of pieces, art patrons, collectors or retail stores who wish to acquire the private collection would not just be supporting an incredible story come together at last but be part of supporting a new one, one that might just change the world.

Reflections of Resilience will be exhibited at Calisto’s Restaurants (Gillview, Goldreef City and Silverstar Casino) where dining spaces will also enjoy their role in transformation as they become immersive art galleries.

• Calisto’s – Gold Reef City – March, 1st – starting at 18:00 pm
• Calisto’s – Silverstar Casino – March, 7th, Starting time: 18:00 pm – This event is a dine-in experience, you can find out more here.
• Calisto’s – Gillview, the week of the 29th of March 2024.

Sources: GTG Interview 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Mannequins Might Change the World: Artivist Natania Botha’s Story appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Nontuthuko Mgabhi has already raised over R3 million in her lifetime for children and schools who most need it. Now, she’s setting to task again for a massive challenge of 520kms for 520 pairs of school shoes!

Richards Bay, South Africa (23 February 2024) — Nontuthuko ‘Nontu’ Mgabhi is a champion of two incredible endeavours—ultramarathons and making sure rural children have the essentials!

Putting her own feet to task for others ample times (She is the first female from Africa to run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 consecutive days) Nontu has successfully raised over R3 million to provide so many learners facing poverty with the essentials they need to feel dignified and encouraged at school.

Her passion has paved the path for building classrooms, renovating schools, and providing books and food, as well as the always essential and trajectory-shifting—school shoes.

Last year, Nontu hit the ground running at the Ultra ASIA 160km Race in Vietnam where she came second in the women’s division and fourth overall. But, regardless of all her achievements, her biggest win by far is being able to make a difference in the life of a school child who needs it most.

Nontu is back at it again in 2024 and will be focusing on a whopping 520km ultramarathon, The Track Namibia, scheduled for 15-24 May. 520kms for 520 pairs of school shoes, her endeavour will take her on a 10-day journey through the Valley of the Moon, the tropic of Capricorn and the Sesriem and Sossusvlei Dunes.

For the experienced long-distance runner, this will be a new kind of challenge given the extreme distance. But, it’s one well worth it, given the underprivileged children in KwaZulu-Natal who will get to walk in school shoes that say, ‘Someone went all the extra miles for me’.

“I believe in giving back, I am grateful that I am able to give back through my passion: a love of running, travel and nature. It is  wonderful to live a life that is authentic with impact. To prepare for these races, although challenging, is not a chore for me—it is a privilege to get to do this. I have the health and means to do it.”—Nontuthuko Mgabhi. 

Those looking to support Nontu on yet another impactful adventure can get in touch with her on nontu.mgabhi@icloud.com!

Sources: Team South Africa; GTG 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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South African Toni Enderli has completed the ‘Everest’ of open water swims—Cook Strait; putting South Africa on the board for his incredible achievement that will also help water-crisis-stricken communities in SA:

Global (21 February 2024) — South Africa’s Toni Enderli has just completed the Cook Strait portion of the Oceans 7 marathon, or as he puts it, ‘a battle against nature’s fury and forgiving New Zealand Waters’.

The fifth and incredibly challenging swim of the Oceans 7, Toni shares that it was a challenge that pushed him to “the very limits of physical and mental endurance.”

Beginning bright and early on Sunday, 18 February, Toni chopped through an even more channelling route for the already tough channel by swimming from the South Island of West Head to the North Island of Karori Rock. To put it into perspective, the Cook Strait swim saw 36 kilometres in rough, 13-degree bone-chilling waters known for strong tides and unpredictable water patterns. In the world of open-water swimming, it has a reputation as one of the toughest water challenges to exist.

In fact, According to the Cook Strait Swim team, “it successfully remains one of the few real ‘Everest Challenges’ left on the planet.”

Toni undertook the task for several reasons, including embracing the legacy of his father and for two charities—Swim for Rivers who work hard to address critical water supply challenges in South Africa, and Sterila’s Mission in Santorina who provide care for stray animals on the island.

“No words can truly capture the mix of emotions and physical strain experienced during those 10 hours and 48 minutes,” he shares.

Explaining the water Everest experience, Toni adds how the power of support pushed him on:

“The journey unfolded in four distinct stages, each presenting its own set of trials and tribulations. From the disorienting chaos of the initial leg to the relentless onslaught of the mighty Cook Strait, every moment tested the bounds of human resilience.

“Yet, amidst the tumult, messages of love and encouragement from cherished family and friends served as beacons of hope, fueling the fire within to press onward. In the heart of adversity, as the ocean threatened to engulf both body and spirit, I unearthed reserves of strength I never knew existed.”

Despite the weather taking a turn for the worst when Cook Strait was about to become a memory, Toni pushed past the winds, currents and underwater volcanic shelf to secure his victory!

The endurance swimmer shared several life lessons from Cook Strait, many of which we thought were too powerful not to share:

• Never Take Things for Granted (nature’s unpredictability demands respect)
• Assumptions Can Break You (stay adaptable; assumptions can be your downfall)
• You Have More in Your Tank (when you think you’re depleted, you’ve only just begun)
• Great Things Come with Large Effort (Nothing worthwhile is easily attained)
• Surround Yourself with the Right Crew (A supportive team makes all the difference).

What a phenomenal achievement!

Sources: Toni Enderli 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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South African glass artist Malebogo Molokane’s is layered with emotion in a very literal way. But, her creations are also fused with a beautiful message of resilience:

Johannesburg, South Africa (21 February 2024) — South Africa’s glass artist Malebogo Molokane is embarking on her first official tour across her home country where her unique artistic edge will blow the minds of anyone who knows how to look beyond the surface.

The glass artist and Tshwane University of Technology alumni and part-time lecturer who was crowned the distinguished recipient of the 2022 Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award got the chance to share her creations with the art capital, Paris, after her big win. There at the Cité Internationale des Arts, she challenged herself as the only glass artist among her peers. Unwavering and determined, the doubts she faced in her delicate craft culminated in something much bigger—her first solo exhibition.

Malebogo is now presenting her exhibition thanks to the French Institute of South Africa and the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA), where her body of work has inspired visitors through both the message of the art and the craft behind it.

‘A Re Tshamekeng’ (“Let’s Play” in Setswane) explores the intricacies of emotional gestures and facial expressions through layered glass artworks. For the glass artist, the fragility of her medium is a reflection of the delicate balance of her journey and the subtle power of human expressions.

Moments of tension, misery, excitement and confusion—life is a game that ‘A Re Tshamekeng’ brings to the forefront in a most unique way.

But life is also nothing if not full of fun at the best of times, which is why her work also focuses on fun board and indigenous games using a variety of glass techniques, from blowing to beading and sand casting. The results are mind-blowing layered glass creations that blend journeys, fun, expressions and the human experience.

Says the artist:

“Glass art is a process and a bundle of emotions from studio to display. It is also a fragile process, mirroring the delicate nature of human emotions. Each time I engage with glass, it becomes a different form of self-expression. I can experiment with it in various ways, even when it cuts through me—yes there’s pain but also fulfilment. The comparison between the fragility of glass and life is essentially the same, with moments of added frustration both in daily challenges and the delicate process of working with glass.” 

The message, then, is that of resilience—just like her journey in creating the pieces. There will be pain, laughter, triumphs and challenges, but when you keep going and take a moment to reflect on all you’ve actually created, you’ll realise life is a game well worth giving your best shot.

Sources: Supplied 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post South African Glass Artist Turns Emotions and Games Into Epic Showcase  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Despite calling herself an ‘ordinary woman’, Leanne Maiden has done a most extraordinary thing. She has officially completed the World’s Toughest Row and become the first South African woman to do it!

Global (19 February 2024) — Leanne Maiden can cast any notions of her being an ‘ordinary woman’ out the porthole because she has successfully completed the World’s Toughest Row and become the first South African woman to finish the 3000 mile journey, ever!

An achievement that’s made history, Leanne took something of a midlife crisis spurred by lockdown and turned it into an incredible adventure where she sailed the waves of resilience, isolation, bravery, pressure and dreams across the Atlantic on her boat, Rieka.

Leanne boasted her South African flag on Saturday 17 February when she celebrated the end of the nearly 5000 kilometre odyssey she hoped would help charities in need, and inspire minds in need of inspiration.

The row took her 66 days and 5 hours from La Gomera to Antigua. On the water, December to February became a lifetime.

At times (especially when the canned peaches were running low) she was not sure if she could do it. There were salty tears and quiet moments of appreciation, like seeing a signal of land and being enveloped in the warmth of support from friends, family and strangers when the journey seemed cold (not least because Leanne ran out of hot water). The doubt of such a daunting task may have washed over Leanne from time to time, but she chose to row on anyway. And the real magic of her row lies in this sentiment.

To embark on an endurance challenge of this magnitude takes an extraordinary kind of willpower. To do something despite the doubt is what puts the extra to the ordinary. Above preparations, weather conditions and other side effects that come with living on your own on a boat for so long, nothing will make or break your experience quite like willpower—and in that, Leanne has taught anyone who has ever thought they were not special enough to do something, a life lesson worth a treasure chest.

Because maybe being extraordinary is a choice. Maybe deciding to do something crazy and ambitious and actually doing it, is possible for anyone, from anywhere. Leanne is a mother, a wife, a sister and a daughter with a South African heart and a Scottish home. She may not be someone who has done crazy, ambitious things all her life, but she still conquered one of the craziest most ambitious things of a lifetime. How inspiring is that?

A certified South African hero, Mzansi salutes you!

Sources: Leanne Maiden 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Leanne Maiden is just a few hundred nautical miles away from becoming the first South African woman to complete the World’s Toughest Row!

Global (13 February 2024) — This morning Leanne Maiden shared an awesome update with her fans and supporters—she is only a few hundred nautical miles away from making history as the first South African woman to complete the World’s Toughest Row. This is the last push!

Initially a whopping distance of nearly 5000 kilometres ahead of her in December, Leanne has made incredible strides. If you’ve been following Leanne’s journey across the Atlantic, you know that it has not come without tremendous challenges. But, in true South African grit, Leanne has overcome everything from salty tears to work-related stress, running out of hot water, rowing into tough winds, sleep deprivation and everything else that comes with the World’s Toughest Row.

Two recent moments marked silver linings of strength for this incredible woman—finding a can of peaches after she thought she had run out, and seeing hope in the sky after noticing an aeroplane.

The aeroplane was particularly significant, as it signalled her first visual indication of being close to land.

“In four days time my family will be flying over in one of those aeroplanes to come and meet me,” she shared in an update. 

With under 200 nautical miles left ahead of her, Leanne’s odyssey is almost at its end and she will soon join other South African legends who made it past their last push, like Peet Botma.

But the last push calls for louder support, and that’s where we know we can count on South Africans! (And in Leanne’s case, Scotland folks too!).

Leanne is rowing not just to make two countries proud (South Africa, her heart and Scotland her home), but also to support three charities: The Mabel Foundation who are the heroes fighting against period poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Women’s Fun Scotland (grassroots programme focused) and The Polar Academy (child-focused).

Beyond these, she also hopes to inspire her children and ‘ordinary people’ (as she inaccurately refers to herself) to do ambitious, crazy things.

Go, Leanne!

Sources: Fair Winds and Following Seas; Leanne Maiden 

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Not your everyday midlife crisis, Dalan Holton’s Robben Island crossing swim in celebration of his 50th hopes to fund the Daniel Lopes Memorial Scholarship at KES for a student facing financial hardships!

Sandton, South Africa (13 February 2024) — Upon approaching the ‘Big 50’, KES Alumnus Dalan Holton from Morningside started thinking about what he could do that would make the milestone birthday that much more significant than a midlife crisis. Soon, the idea of charging through frosty waters to fund something as important as someone else’s education began swimming through his mind.

For some, a midlife crisis might mean fast cars or embarking on adventures you’d always dreamed of. For Dalan, it means combining adrenaline with heart, which is exactly why he has signed up to tackle a frosty swim from Robben Island to Blouberg!

“Now, before you question my sanity, let me assure you there’s a method to my madness,” says Dalan. 

“This aquatic adventure isn’t just about proving that I’ve still got it at 50. It’s about something much bigger. I’m raising funds on BackaBuddy for the Daniel Lopes Memorial Scholarship.”

When Dalan was at KES (King Edward VII School), he forged a lasting friendship with Antonio Lopes, with whom he swam, graduated and remained friends long after their school days.

When Antonio’s son, Daniel, tragically passed away when he was just 12 years old on account of a freak accident in December 2018, it left a huge void in the hearts of those who knew him.

One big way Daniel was honoured was through the founding of the Daniel Lopes Memorial Scholarship.  Daniel was someone who excelled in academics and sports during his time at school, and paying his life tribute through a hugely significant scholarship was only fitting.

Given Dalan’s close connection to the family, it only made sense for him to raise funds for the KES scholarship. As to why he chose this frosty swim, Dalan shares that it is symbolic.

“[The frosty swim is] a journey of endurance, hope and remembrance, much like the journey of the students this scholarship will support.” 

R39,800.74 has been raised already, with an ultimate goal of R50 000 which will cover 50% of KES tuition fees for the entire high school career of a student.

“Your donation can help turn this seemingly crazy 50-year-old’s midlife crisis into a lifeline for young minds dreaming of a brighter future,” Dalan adds. 

With just under two days to go until his swim on February 15, Dalan draws closer and closer to the 7.5 kilometres in waters known to challenge even the toughest swimmers. Dalan has been hard at work training under the guidance of his coach, Cyndi Starr, and has prepared alongside training partners Andy Johnson and Suzette Prinsloo to get to the point where he is ready to dive into action.

He also hopes that the challenge will inspire his 5-year-old daughter to help others and follow her passion.

In a note of advice that can resonate with all of us, Dalan shares:

“Be active and push yourself. Find something you love and then excel at it, stretching yourself but finding joy in the process every step of the way. If you can find a way for the thing you love and are good at to add value to other people’s lives—do that!” 

You can find Dalan’s campaign here. 

Sources: Supplied

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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