Winter Solstice Swim | Raising Funds for Adopt a Swimmer
This year we put a spin on our annual Swim Club – our much-anticipated 5-day early morning swim challenge, which we launched in 2021 with the shared goal to reconnect, revive and raise funds for a worthy cause.
In line with the Plett Ocean Festival, we hosted a one-day-only Winter Solstice Swim on June 20th 2024, challenging swimmers to submerge in the sea in the spirit of feeling good, making new friends and in a collective effort to raise funds for Adopt a Swimmer, a Plettenberg Bay-based NGO committed to giving every young child the life skill of learning to swim. With 128 swimmers taking part, we were able to raise R32,000 for Adopt a Swimmer. And of course, as a reward for getting you wet-haired and out of your comfort zone, we gifted all swimmers with a custom Mungo towel.
Adopt a Swimmer (AAS) is an organisation that creates a safe environment for children to learn the life-saving skill of swimming, under the care of professional coaches. Founded by Louise Auersperg in 2011, the organisation offers children from local, disadvantaged communities a pathway to water safety, and personal empowerment – recognising that swimming has the ability to foster confidence and self-reliance, boost physical and psychological well being, and equip children with essential life-saving water skills.
Louise’s personal journey set the foundations of the organisation. Inspired by her own struggles with epilepsy and learning disabilities, she recognised swimming’s transformative power to help children facing similar challenges.
“During my late teens and early adulthood I was privileged to spend most of my free time under or top of the water – either on boats, canoes, paddle skis, yachts, hobie cats, fishing or deep-sea diving. The water gave me freedom to discover more about myself without boundaries. I was inspired to share it with others, and to use water as a conduit to bring healing, to restore and to empower. Using the skills I have learnt, and sharing the experiences that have enriched my life, gave me the opportunity to offer hope to others facing difficulties,” says Louise.
Over the years, AAS has grown, helping over 800 children by providing not just swimming lessons but also a nurturing environment where all children can thrive, regardless of their background.
“Our students are from very challenging circumstances. We teach childrens from the local Born in Africa programme, whilst others might be recommended to us – students that would like to participate in Plett Nippers, or have dreams of becoming life savers, but cannot swim. We are also approached by other NGOs.’
Currently AAS employs two qualified coaches and 8 volunteers. The programme, which works with the natural pace of each child, lasts anywhere between 18 months to two years.
Seeing the children develop, and the opportunities that the skill of swimming affords them is a great source of joy for Louise.
“One of the first students to join the programme in the early days went on to join the Nippers, then Junior, and ultimately Senior, Life Saving. She was chosen to represent South Africa in the Lifesaving Champs in Egypt and World Lifesaving Champs in Italy, bringing back a gold medal.”
Reward is also found in the day-to-day milestones.
“Seeing students arrive that have never seen a pool, or been in one, get in and discover the soothing feeling of water on their bodies, or the moment when a nervous student finally lets go and starts taking their first few strokes, or witnessing one of our disabled students moving in the water on his own; turning on his back and floating… All of this gives me courage to face my own struggles head on.”
Looking towards the future, Lousie dreams of widening their reach. “We need more funds to teach more children, and to employ a full-time coach to run the programme daily. My dream is to pass on the torch, by teaching one of the students to coach, and employing them in the programme.”
To find out more about AAS, or how you can get involved, visit their website here.
