Down Syndrome superstar athlete Zora Wegerif was given the incredible opportunity to represent SA by competing at the 2024 Trisome Games. But, that’s not the best part of the story. In under two weeks, people rallied together to make sure that she would be able to pay her way there and secure her chance to make SA proud. Their effort, in turn, has already given SA so much to be proud of:
Global (04 March 2024) — Athletes across disciplines know the emotional rollercoaster that is being selected to participate in international competitions. On the one hand, you’re ecstatic to have been given the opportunity to represent the rainbow nation in a sport you’ve worked so hard to excel at. But on the other hand, the financial headaches that come with this kind of opportunity are enough to make most South Africans’ hearts sink. This was the initial case for Zora Wegerif and her family after Zora, a talented swimmer, was given the chance to represent South Africa at the upcoming Trisome Games—a big competition for Down Syndrome athletes.
If her name rings a bell, you might remember Zora as the very first person with Down Syndrome to complete the 94.7 Cycle Challenge! A determined athlete, she has worked hard to exercise her swimming talents both locally and internationally.
Even though competition-related financial obstacles cause immense stress for athletes across the spectrum, competitive opportunities for athletes with Down Syndrome pail in comparison to the chances that other athletes who aren’t differently abled have. When there is more representation and more support, the chances for more competitions starts to become less a matter of wishful thinking, and more one of possibility.
As many athletes and those who want to help them make their cometition dreams come true do, Zora’s parents Marc and Teresa Wegerif created a crowdfund campaign.
If you’ve ever made a crowdfunding campaign, you know that they can sit for months before gaining traction. Closing fundraising targets is its own kind of brilliant achievement.
That’s why Zora’s journey to the Trisome Games was an epic splash of good news! Created on 12 February, Zora’s campaign target was reached in record time— just under two weeks! Not only this, but the target was surpassed with the initial ask being R35,925 and the donations made to the tune of R37,988.04.
This means she will not only actually get to shine for SA at the Trisome Games (happening between 19-26 March), but she’ll do it knowing how many people already back her before she’s even dipped her toes into the Trisome’s pools.
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