Local helps Princess Charlene Foundation raise funds
He took part in the water bike challenge to raise funds for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.
Parkrand BMX rider Kaiden Keyser joined over 20 local and international celebrities to participate in the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation SA (PCMF SA)’s first-ever water bike challenge in South Africa on the Sun City Dam on September 16.
Keyser, who is a youth ambassador for the PCMF SA, and the celebrities joined forces with several local companies to raise funds for the foundation, which is led by former Benonian and Olympic swimmer, Charlene Wittstock, the Princess of Monaco.
According to the foundation, the event was part of a three-day fundraising initiative which included a water safety and survival swimming course for more than 100 school children, with the princess taking on a hands-on approach to water safety education, as well as an invitational golf game with the Louis Oosthuizen 57 Foundation.
The water bike challenge, which is the official fundraising event for the foundation and historically held on the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco, was held over a 1.2km course with each team completing a 21km relay race.
The race was won by the Northam Platinum Bumblees team featuring musician Neil Breytenbach and former New Zealand rugby sevens player Sam Barton.
Other big names at the event included AB de Villiers, Percy Montgomery, Albie Morkel and Lee-Anne Liebenberg.
“The water bike challenge is great fun for participants and spectators but it’s also an essential element in raising funds and awareness for saving lives and instilling a water safety culture in communities across Southern Africa,” said Wittstock.
Lifesaving South Africa was the major beneficiary of the funds raised during the water bike challenge. The organisation has a membership of over 8 000 individuals, including 4 000 volunteers who carry lifeguard duties. It operates across 65 surf clubs and 22 pool clubs nationally.
“We were thrilled that Princess Charlene of Monaco could attend the event and play such an active role in educating children about water safety and raising awareness of this critical cause.
“Bringing the water bike challenge to South Africa for the first time is a step towards increasing the amount of work the foundation does in the region and boosting the good we can do here,” said PCMF SA.
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