Last yr Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA), a sport for growth NGO, acquired overwhelming assist elevating over R120k. An additional R 100k was pledged, however these funds are nonetheless excellent.
Known as “Joburg’s Mainstay of Groove”, Ms Party took a plunge on Saturday 10 September 2022 to help raise funds for Special Olympics South Africa. Picture: Palesa Manaleng.
JOHANNESBURG – People flocked to Altitude Beach in Fourways to plunge into ice-cold water to assist the Special Olympics national team this Saturday.
The annual Special Olympics South Africa Polar Plunge was again for the sixth yr with over 150 personalities plunging into icy water to help raise funds for the 2022 Special Olympics South Africa National Games happening in Limpopo in October.
“I’m here to support Special Olympics it’s my second year plunging and this year I plunged with former Mrs South Africa Thenjiwe Mdluli. To me inclusion is very important I’m a mother with a son on the Autism spectrum so we know what it feels like to live in a world where being Atypical is difficult so this is a very important cause for me and close to my heart,” stated the 2022 Mrs South Africa, Jo Judnick-Wilson to Eyewitness News.
Support @KimJaydeBlog as she takes the Plunge in assist of the Special Olympics National Summer Games.
If you prefer to to assist, please share, and in the event you can contribute please click on on the hyperlink under. https://t.co/YHjnFvK7Aj#PolarPlunge2022 pic.twitter.com/cwYVUfteUI
Special Olympics South Africa (@SO_SouthAfrica) August 26, 2022
Last yr Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA), a sport for growth NGO, acquired overwhelming assist elevating over R120k. An additional R 100k was pledged, however these funds are nonetheless excellent.
“Yes. At the Plunge in 2021 a pledge was made on behalf of a well-known company as well as in the individual’s capacity. To date this pledge has not been honoured. This is of course very disappointing for us as an organisation on a number of levels, firstly from a financial perspective it does hurt us as we rely on funds raised to provide opportunities for our athletes and that is a substantial amount to lose, secondly, and perhaps even more disappointing is that there are those who would use a platform such as the plunge for self-aggrandisement by pledging funds which they have no intention of providing. It is a further indication of how people with intellectual disabilities are discriminated against and taken advantage of,” stated Ancilla Smith, CEO of Special Olympics South Africa.
Funds raised final yr had been in assist of the Special Olympics South Africa’s National Teams participation within the 2022 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Russia however these video games had been understandably cancelled. These funds have been now been dedicated to additionally assist this yr’s National Summer Games.
This yr’s plunge members jumped into a pool suitably chilled to polar temperatures with over 5 tons of ice.
Many of the courageous plungers additionally contribute to the fundraising efforts with a nominal plunging price.
Among the plungers was medically retired former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Brighton Mhlongo.
“I’m here because as athletes we all know about the Paralympics and Olympics and when they mentioned the Special Olympics I was kind of puzzled my question was what’s special about them, why do they have to say Special Olympics and I did a whole lot of research. It was more of trying to find balance between them and the Paralympics but over and above I asked myself why are we putting all these titles because we are all athletes,” stated Mhlongo.
The 2022 Special Olympics South Africa National Games will see the number of the National Team that shall be collaborating within the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, Germany.
“As Special Olympics South Africa we have always received tremendous support from local government. On a National level we work closely with a number of Ministries on our various initiatives. However, we are hoping in the near future that our athletes will enjoy the same support and recognition afforded to their mainstream counterparts,” stated Smith.
Founded in 1991 and accredited by Special Olympics Incorporated, Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) is devoted to offering sports activities coaching for males, ladies and kids with mental disabilities.
Support @markfish74 as he takes the Plunge in assist of the Special Olympics National Summer Games.
If you prefer to to assist, please share, and in the event you can contribute, please click on on the hyperlink under.
https://t.co/JjBjkgBeql#PolarPlunge2022 pic.twitter.com/SsfMzcfr7dSpecial Olympics South Africa (@SO_SouthAfrica) August 26, 2022
The Special Olympics athletes have at all times introduced house luggage of medals and dream of being celebrated and supported by South Africans.
“It is very disheartening for our athletes when, for example, our National Team returned from the Special Olympics Summer World Games in the UAE in 2019 with a tally of 67 medals of which 35 were gold they received no National recognition. We are working hard to create more awareness of our athlete’s achievements and this is why the support we receive from so many celebrities through the Polar Plunge is so important to us” stated Smith.
The 2022 Special Olympics South Africa National Games will see the number of the National Team that shall be collaborating within the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, Germany.
“One of the aims of the Polar Plunge is to create more awareness and recognition for our Special Olympics athletes. People are welcome to do their own plunges at home or wherever they are in support of our athletes. They are welcome to send videos of their plunges through to us at info@specialolympics.org.za so that we can share them on our social media” stated Smith.
SOSA is a volunteer-driven organisation that welcomes anybody who would love to be part of the household to contact and turn out to be part of our international motion.
“We also encourage people to share their plunges on their own social media using the hashtag #plungesa to help us spread awareness. They can also follow us on our social media” concluded Smith.
