Swimming for a good cause
The Robben Island Swim has always been on Roos’s bucket list and she is glad to have ticked it off.
Northmead resident Christine Roos (29) raised a total of R7 500 after opening her BackaBuddy account and completing the Robben Island swim.
This local is raising money for the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) as she holds them very dear to her heart, and the Robben Island swim seemed like the best platform for her to get started.
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“I decided to become a bone marrow donor in 2019 and was under the impression that it was still a very painful medical procedure, only to find out that the technology around donating bone marrow had changed so much,” she said.
“So, I made it my mission to raise awareness and educate everyone about it while also raising money for families who cannot afford the process of finding a suitable donor.”
The Robben Island swim has always been on Roos’s bucket list and she is glad to have ticked it off.
“I am grateful to have ticked the swim off of my bucket list but my mission for the SABMR has only begun. I want to continue raising awareness, encouraging people to register to become donors and to raise money for the families in need,” she said.
“I think if people knew exactly what it meant to be bone marrow donors, they would make the effort to register.”
The Robben Island swim, also known as the Cadiz Freedom Swim, is an extreme 7.5km open water swimming race from Robben Island to Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, Cape Town.
“I loved every moment of the swim,” said Roos.
“My friend and I split up quite early in the swim as she struggled more with the cold than I did, but it was such a freeing experience swimming in the middle of the Atlantic.
“While swimming, I saw dolphins, seals, and jellyfish along the way.
“The feeling of accomplishment when I finished was something I wish I could package and gift to people.
However, I don’t think it even comes close to having the opportunity to give someone a second chance at life.”
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Roos has raised a total of R7 500 for SABMR and plans to keep her BackaBuddy account open for as long as possible to raise as much as she can.
“Thank you to Chalana Skinner who gifted me this opportunity as my 30th birthday gift, to Sean Tasker and his dad, Jerry Tasker, for allowing me to train at the Vaal, to my family for always supporting me and finally to Kamiel Singh, Unity Ruiters, and the SABMR for everything they continue to do for all those fighting any blood-related diseases and cancers, we appreciate you.”
Roos is already planning her next swim as her ultimate goal is to swim the English Channel and she will be swimming on behalf of SABMR and raising funds for them.
“I want to complete the three swims that take place around Robben Island and then to Langebaan. That’s where my journey will be taking me shortly,” she said.
If you wish to donate towards her fund, visit https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/christine-swimsforsabmr
“Every R50 makes a huge difference,” she concluded.
