ICYMI: HeronBridge College learners rise against hunger
FOURWAYS – Learners plunged into chilly water in order to help raise funds for Rise Against Hunger.
A number of learners at HeronBridge College plunged into chilly water on 26 June as part of the school’s first-ever Virtual Polar Bear Swim.
Outreach office administrator at the school Suzanne Paidas said, “It was quite a logistical challenge to pull off, having never done something like this before, but we were very pleased with the way in which the students and our most wonderful staff took part.
“As the weather turned cloudy and very frigid on Friday, we were wondering just how much support we would get, but sure enough our enthusiastic and spectacular students ‘came to the party’, or should we say ‘came to the pool’.”
She explained that learners in each grade group were sent a Google Meet link through their grade tutors a day in advance.There they were encouraged to sign in, watch a short staff video together and set up their device to show their jump.
Learners jumped into freezing cold swimming pools, lakes, dams or even threw a bucket of cold water over their heads. Although the event was voluntary, the school was impressed with the number of learners who took part.The event took place to support Rise Against Hunger, which will purchase packed food boxes for pre-school learners using the funds raised.
Head of marketing at HeronBridge Natasha Marot explained that the funds raised would form part of the R140 000 target for last year and this year for Rise Against Hunger.
“These meals are greatly appreciated by the pre-schools we support, as it not only provides a healthy meal for the children every single day for the entire year, but the school is able to save the money that they would have had to spend on food and reallocate it to more staff, increased salaries, upgrades to their facilities or to keep up with maintenance and resource costs,” said Marot.
Paidas added, “What a wonderful way to begin the mid-term break, and to raise awareness and funding towards this most significant outreach programme which HeronBridge College has been supporting for eight years.”
