Direct insurer MiWay and its supporters, in co-operation SOSA fund raiser Rochelle Badenhorst, raised over R340,000 for Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) on the company’s third annual charity golf day on September 15 – exceeding its target of R200,000.
“We raised over R100,000 in 2008 and 2009, so we thought R200,000 would be a good stretch target for this year,” says MiWay CEO René Otto. “We are overwhelmed and extremely honoured by the generous contributions to Special Olympics South Africa and their golf team.” The funds raised will take six golfers to the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, with R100 000 remaining to fund other expenses of Team SA.
Special Olympics, the world’s largest amateur sporting organisation for the intellectually disabled, was founded 42 years ago in the US by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. It now comprises over 3.2 million athletes in more than 180 countries and offers 30 sporting codes.
Camille Duncan, Acting CEO of SOSA, says the organisation gives adults and children with intellectual disabilities “opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community”. For athletes, she says, “this participation leads to greater self-confidence and more positive self-images, which they carry with them into their daily lives at home, in the classroom, in their jobs and in their communities.”
The South African team won 87 medals at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shangai, including 25 gold medals. SOSA is now raising funds to take its team of 86 athletes, including 6 golfers, to the 2011 Games in Athens in mid-2011.
Duncan says SOSA’s Golf Programme, which has a strong partnership with the PGA of South Africa, has produced 3 gold medalists in the 18-hole stroke play competition.
“We are very proud to be associated with SOSA and its golf team,” says Otto. “Over the past few years I have had the privilege of sharing a golf course on many occasions with one of these extraordinary athletes, Konrad Zastrau. Through his incredible love for the sport and for people, he has forged a special place in my heart.”
“We are privileged to be able to help SOSA as they strive to reach more athletes, provide more competition opportunities, bring pride to more families and create more communities where their athletes are accepted and celebrated for their numerous skills and abilities.”
MiWay was the headline sponsor of the Golf Day. Platinum and gold sponsors included Coca-Cola SA, Sandown Commercial Vehicles, Glasfit, Great South, Tracker, SuperSport International, Dimension Data, DANMAR, SMD and The Pro Shop.