South African swims in Italy for local charity

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Italy swim mainCarina Bruwer of the pop group Sterling EQ recently raised R20 000 for a local charity that aims to help children with cancer. The organisation needs R600 000 to help feed 60 families in December and give the children Christmas gifts.

In an attempt to make the holiday season bearable for critically ill children in South Africa, Carina Bruwer of instrumental pop group Sterling EQ recently raised R20 000 for a local charity during a visit to Italy.

This fundraising is part of Swim For Hope. The initiative is run by Bruwer in collaboration with Little Fighters Cancer Trust. Little Fighters is an organisation that supports children with cancer and their families.

Bruwer, a veteran marathon swimmer, started Swim For Hope in 2013 with a solo swim around Cape Point. She has done numerous swims for Little Fighters since then, and has raised over R300 000 over the past few years. For her swim in Italy on 11 October, Bruwer collected R20 000 for the project’s Christmas Elves Project.

THE RACE IN ITALY

Bruwer took part in the annual SwimTheIsland race in Bergeggi, in Italy. This is one of Europe’s largest open water events, with over 2 000 swimmers competing in distances ranging from 800m to 6km.

The musician and swimmer was invited as an international celebrity to endorse the race for the second year, according to the organisers. She aimed to complete 18km by swimming multiple laps of the race route, to raise funds for the Little Fighters Cancer Trust, they said.

The crowd was delighted when she finished the 18km and then announced that she would swim another lap to raise additional funds. Despite multiple jellyfish stings, Bruwer completed a 21km swim in a time of 6h25’58.

Sterling EQ’s two other members, Ariella Caira and Luca Hart, supported Carina from the beach. The Sama award-winning trio performed at the opening of the event on Saturday night on the piazza in Spotorno, to a capacity audience consisting of participants, supporters and members of the public.

Bruwer and Sterling EQ are based in Cape Town.

frCarina Bruwer with Sterling EQ’s other two other members, Ariella Caira and Luca Hart, supported performed at the opening of the event on Saturday night on the piazza in Spotorno.

Little Fighters Cancer Trust tweeted their gratitude:


Bruwer also took to social media to speak about her achievement:

I had such a great time doing what I love, but doing it for Little Fighters Cancer Trust just makes it SO much more…

Posted by Carina Bruwer on Sunday, October 11, 2015

Italy swim 3Despite multiple jellyfish stings, Carina Bruwer completed a 21km swim instead of the 18km she was asked to do.

CHRISTMAS ELVES PROJECT

Swim For Hope aims to provide a Christmas gift to every patient in the paediatric oncology wards at 15 hospitals all over South Africa. There are approximately 2 000 children with cancer. Besides the Christmas gift, each child will also get a snack pack, a Santa hat and a cracker.

Another goal is to give Christmas gifts to the siblings of the child who has cancer. The organisation also aims to make sure that 60 families get a full month’s groceries for December.

HELP NEEDED

Swim For Hope needs R600 000 to make sure this project reaches its target. Anyone who would like to help is asked for:

  • Toys for the children – to keep the presents fair, any donated toys should not cost more than R200 each;
  • Snack packs – consisting of a packet of Lays crisps, a small boxed fruit juice, a packet of Maynards soft chewy sweets, a lollipop and a fizzer, packaged in a ziplock or zipseal bag;
  • Christmas hats and Christmas crackers; Non-perishable food, cleaning materials and toiletries;
  • or Money – for fresh produce such as meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy, eggs and milk to be bought for 60 families.

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