WHAT is believed to be the most unique fundraising project ever tried in South Africa – and maybe worldwide – is the 24-hour underwater marathon which will be undertaken by two 15-year-old East London schoolboys in full scuba gear while raising awareness of diving among the general public.
Originally scheduled for late February, the event was postponed to Friday April 26 to Sunday April 28 at the Vincent Park Shopping Centre.
The two schoolboys are Ruan Schoombee and Jeandre Jelliman of Grens High, both advanced divers despite their age, and they will stay submerged during a 24-hour period in a huge tank.
The Grens Supporters Club are currently working hard to make the project a great success. Schoombee swam the recent MerriDash, with Schoombee finishing first in his section. Fundraiser Andre Schoombee, Ruan’s father, Andre Schoombee, who is also the fundraiser said the event would be a good opportunity for businesses to advertise as there would be plenty of foot traffic past the tank and many people would stop to watch the boys in action.
The idea was the brainchild of the boys.
Presently, there are very few swimmers at the school and the school lacks the funds to generate interest in swimming as well as the purchase of swimming kit, entry fees for galas and transport to and from galas. The boys intend to raise funds in order to facilitate not only aquatic sport at their school, but sport in general.
“No other party will benefit financially from this event,” Schoombee senior has assured interested parties.
“We have presently been in discussions with the supplier of the tank, which has a diameter of five metres and is 1.6m deep, the suppliers of filtrations and heating equipment as well as various other entities, inter alia, scaffolding companies and electrical businesses,” said Schoombee.
“What is envisaged is that the tank will be placed in the Mugg & Bean forecourt of Vincent Park Mall.”
The boys have a number of wonderful ideas and have even considered placing fish in the tank which will be an additional drawcard. Furniture will be placed in the tank so that the boys can sit and play various games. On a lighter note, the boys will, at certain intervals, dive in their full school uniforms, complete with ties and blazers. Confirming the fun aspect of the event, Schoombee said that the boys have convinced members of Grens staff – hopefully the headmaster – and even some East London celebrities, to also spend some time in the tank with them. “We have trained hard and we are both ready for this big event,” said Ruan.
“There will be extensive media coverage of the event and East London newspapers have already taken up the story,” continued Schoombee, senior.
“We have already had two interviews on Algoa FM, one from the East London studios and one from Port Elizabeth, and this has generated a great deal of interest,” Schoombee said. It is on the cards that Algoa FM will air live interviews during the course of the weekend. Well-known East London broadcaster, Gordon Graham, always ready for a challenge, has confirmed he will join the boys in the tank.
Andre said that advertisers will be able to have branding on the tank and get some exposure via the media. Mention will be made of the major sponsors and major donors and those who supply equipment and their expertise during this exercise. “We believe such an undertaking has not happened in East London or in the Eastern Cape and we stand corrected but we do not think this has happened in South Africa, where two 15- year-old schoolboys attempt a 24-hour marathon in order to raise awareness of scuba and raise funds for aquatics at their school,” he added. He added that the second 24- hour period from the Saturday at 2pm to the Sunday at 2pm will see Border divers and school-going divers enter the tank for an hour or two at a time.
Andre said that major sponsors would be able to secure branding rights to a brick wall where companies or individuals could buy a brick upon which their name will be inscribed. Others are able to jump into the tank and join the two boys for a period of time along with a donation. “Supporters can also place a bank bag in the tank with a small donation and at the change-over of divers, a lucky draw will take place with some wonderful prizes,” Andre said.
“We are hoping also to have a ‘Bail and Jail’ item,” he said, adding that high-profile individuals, sports personalities, businessmen and women, doctors and sponsors will appeal to friends and business acquaintances for sponsorship to pay them to be released from the tank. A raffle will also be arranged. Others can pledge to sponsor the boys at a certain rate per hour in the tank. Among the sponsors so far to rally to the cause are some branches of Pick n Pay, Red Alert, and the Windmill Roadhouse.
Interested business people can contact Mike on 0738592940 for more information.
Brave bid to tackle underwater marathon
Originally scheduled for late February, the event was postponed to Friday April 26 to Sunday April 28 at the Vincent Park Shopping Centre.
The two schoolboys are Ruan Schoombee and Jeandre Jelliman of Grens High, both advanced divers despite their age, and they will stay submerged during a 24-hour period in a huge tank.
The Grens Supporters Club are currently working hard to make the project a great success. Schoombee swam the recent MerriDash, with Schoombee finishing first in his section. Fundraiser Andre Schoombee, Ruan’s father, Andre Schoombee, who is also the fundraiser said the event would be a good opportunity for businesses to advertise as there would be plenty of foot traffic past the tank and many people would stop to watch the boys in action.
The idea was the brainchild of the boys.
Presently, there are very few swimmers at the school and the school lacks the funds to generate interest in swimming as well as the purchase of swimming kit, entry fees for galas and transport to and from galas. The boys intend to raise funds in order to facilitate not only aquatic sport at their school, but sport in general.
“No other party will benefit financially from this event,” Schoombee senior has assured interested parties.
“We have presently been in discussions with the supplier of the tank, which has a diameter of five metres and is 1.6m deep, the suppliers of filtrations and heating equipment as well as various other entities, inter alia, scaffolding companies and electrical businesses,” said Schoombee.
“What is envisaged is that the tank will be placed in the Mugg & Bean forecourt of Vincent Park Mall.”
The boys have a number of wonderful ideas and have even considered placing fish in the tank which will be an additional drawcard. Furniture will be placed in the tank so that the boys can sit and play various games. On a lighter note, the boys will, at certain intervals, dive in their full school uniforms, complete with ties and blazers. Confirming the fun aspect of the event, Schoombee said that the boys have convinced members of Grens staff – hopefully the headmaster – and even some East London celebrities, to also spend some time in the tank with them. “We have trained hard and we are both ready for this big event,” said Ruan.
“There will be extensive media coverage of the event and East London newspapers have already taken up the story,” continued Schoombee, senior.
“We have already had two interviews on Algoa FM, one from the East London studios and one from Port Elizabeth, and this has generated a great deal of interest,” Schoombee said. It is on the cards that Algoa FM will air live interviews during the course of the weekend. Well-known East London broadcaster, Gordon Graham, always ready for a challenge, has confirmed he will join the boys in the tank.
Andre said that advertisers will be able to have branding on the tank and get some exposure via the media. Mention will be made of the major sponsors and major donors and those who supply equipment and their expertise during this exercise. “We believe such an undertaking has not happened in East London or in the Eastern Cape and we stand corrected but we do not think this has happened in South Africa, where two 15- year-old schoolboys attempt a 24-hour marathon in order to raise awareness of scuba and raise funds for aquatics at their school,” he added. He added that the second 24- hour period from the Saturday at 2pm to the Sunday at 2pm will see Border divers and school-going divers enter the tank for an hour or two at a time.
Andre said that major sponsors would be able to secure branding rights to a brick wall where companies or individuals could buy a brick upon which their name will be inscribed. Others are able to jump into the tank and join the two boys for a period of time along with a donation. “Supporters can also place a bank bag in the tank with a small donation and at the change-over of divers, a lucky draw will take place with some wonderful prizes,” Andre said.
“We are hoping also to have a ‘Bail and Jail’ item,” he said, adding that high-profile individuals, sports personalities, businessmen and women, doctors and sponsors will appeal to friends and business acquaintances for sponsorship to pay them to be released from the tank. A raffle will also be arranged. Others can pledge to sponsor the boys at a certain rate per hour in the tank. Among the sponsors so far to rally to the cause are some branches of Pick n Pay, Red Alert, and the Windmill Roadhouse.
Interested business people can contact Mike on 0738592940 for more information.
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