Damn, Daniel! Marc dazzles in the Midmar Dam for the 25th year, this time for charity
He has done the Midmar Mile consecutively for 25 years.
When Marc Daniel (34) was nine years old he took to the water of the Midmar Dam for what would be the first of a long relationship with the famous open water swimming event, the Midmar Mile.
Hit the fast-forward button to this past weekend (February 10 and 11) and the Farrarmere resident was celebrating 25 consecutive years of participating at the popular swim in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
Not only was Daniel celebrating his milestone quarter-century of Midmar Mile swims, but he was also part of a select group of swimmers who joined the Midmar Mile’s elite 8 Mile Club.
The club requires the swimmers to complete all eight races on the Midmar Mile programme, and in the process raise funds for the various charitable organisations that are identified by the club each year.
Daniel teamed up with Dave Maclean (team leader), Adrian Blake, Andrew Whitehead and Lindi Robbertze as a member of Team Thembelihle in an effort to raise funds and contribute towards the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, which undertakes much-needed work locally with the education of vital skills required to learn how to swim.
Through their efforts the team managed to raise over R600 000, a contribution which will help aid and contribute to the decreasing levels of child drowning in South Africa.
Reflecting on the weekend, Daniel said: “The event was incredible and exceptionally well organised.
“The 8 Mile Club raised over R3.1 million for various charities.
“Knowing this while swimming seemed to distract me from the fatigue my body experienced through events seven and eight.
“Surprisingly I felt far stronger on day two than day one.
“The camaraderie between all 280-plus ‘8 Milers’ was unbelievable.
“Through the leadership of Dave Maclean from Team Thembelihle over R600 000 was raised for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and I was fortunate to be a part of a fantastic team of five.”
Daniel added that completing the challenge was rewarding.
“It is always satisfying to compete in an event you are not familiar with.
“It made for my most memorable Midmar year by far, besides my first attempt in 1993 when my frantic and stressed mom, Inge Munro, had a pair of binoculars glued to her eyes trying to identify me in a group of over 1 500 swimmers.
“I thank her for always opening the door to me to events like this.”
The father of two is well-known in the local sporting community.
The eight-time Comrades Marathon finisher can regularly be spotted running the local roads with his wife Robyn (a three-time Comrades finisher) or fellow Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) members.
He can also be found ducking and diving canoes and boats while swimming in the waters of Homestead Dam, or the ‘Benoni Ocean’ as he likes to call it.
“Thanks to all my family and friends for their support and thank you to those who were able to pass on a financial donation to the charity.
“Thank you to Dave for affording me the opportunity to take part in the magnificent event, a kind gesture I will never forget.”
ALSO READ:
https://www.citizen.co.za/benoni-city-times/297554/things-learned-kingdom-zulu-comrades-guy-didnt-run-comrades-2-0/
Follow us on these platforms:
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp: 079 431 1217
Instagram: benonicitytimes.co.za
