Swimmers making a huge splash for drowning prevention

Staff Reporter|Published 7 months ago

From left, Luan Cedras, Elethu Madywabe, Bokomoso Ramera, Lee-wander Wakefield, Ububukho Ngcwayi and Peter Solomons.

The Cape Town Masters swim group of Somerset West, run by Jean Degenaaar, have for three years in a row made huge ripples, swimming huge distances and as a team raising impactful funds for Darcey Sunshine Organisation.

Jean Degenaar started this swimming group in 2007, and they use the fabulous aquatic facility at Generations Pool run by Sharks Academy. “We called ourselves the Strand Masters. After our move to the aqua centre at then Reddam School we kept that name,” said Jean. “But in 2020 when Covid hit we had to be a registered club to be able to swim. As there were a few of us competing as part of the Cape Town Masters club we became a satellite group for Cape Town Masters.”

The Cape Town Masters swim group of Somerset West, run by Jean Degenaaar, have made huge ripples for the past three years, swimming huge distances - and as a team raising impactful funds for Darcey Sunshine Foundation.

This year once again they’ve made a big splash towards drowning prevention, swimming 70km and raising almost R12 000 in one evening.

These funds are going on to empower water safety education for local vulnerable children.

Darcey Sunshine Doig was just three years old, when she drowned in her family pool In Somerset West in 2020.

Her family and friends have ensured her tragic loss has motivated a huge campaign to empower hundreds of children to be water safe.

Every year their organisation provides over 280 children, from vulnerable communities across Cape Town, a full year of water safety education - including pool sessions and beach and sea safety education.

This non-profit also does educational talks to hundreds of children at local public and private schools, to empower youngsters to be safer and wiser around water.

Drowning is a tragedy preventable through education and awareness, and this non-profit partners with local schools and Lifesavers SA to ensure water safety messages are spread to families every year and drownings are prevented.

Visit their website to find out how you can make a difference and join hands in saving lives, at www.darceysunshine.org, or contact Dr Bryony May at 071 293 8964.