Bids open for Dusi’s charity batch
The funds raised from the bids will be split between two organisations that will directly benefit the communities along the route.
WITH the summer rains falling throughout KwaZulu-Natal and the 2021 MyLife Dusi Canoe Marathon fever taking hold, paddlers have begun to take advantage of the option to join the charity batch ahead of the annual race.
Every year the money raised from the Dusi charity batch is split two ways. A portion goes to the hard-working Duzi Umgeni Conservation Trust (DUCT) and the Valley Chiefs Fund – a fund set up to support the communities in the Valley of a Thousand Hills.
DUCT was established in 2006 by paddlers as a way to champion the environmental health of the uMsundusi and uMgeni Rivers. The role that DUCT play to conserve the river systems is a continuous project. The general manager of the organisation, Faye Brownell said all of the assistance they receive is used to fight river pollution.
“The health of the Dusi River is very poor,” said Brownell. “Industrial spills, raw sewage and volumes of solid waste are an ongoing nightmare. DUCT works tirelessly at local, community, and government level to find ways to bring sustainable, positive improvements. But the job is bigger than just DUCT.”
The charity batch was set up to help DUCT when their funding might not cover certain projects. Brownell is hopeful that paddlers for the 2021 Dusi will dig deep into their pockets for a spot in the prestigious batch.
“We all need to value the river as a part of our community. Paddlers have a key role as the eyes and ears on the ground, reporting their concerns. Paddlers can also be community mobilisers, highlighting the importance of good river health and raise funds to help organisations like DUCT. The Dusi Charity Batch is one of these ways to help. Do your bit – bid high, raise the stakes and help us to keep up the work on the Dusi,” she added.
The Valley Chiefs Fund is an organisation that supports projects needed in the valley.
The bidding process for the charity batch has a few rules that need to be adhered to throughout. Paddlers need to post a minimum bid of R1 000 to get themselves in the running for a spot in the batch. There are only 60 places in the batch that will make up G Batch, which will start at 6.50am on the Thursday.
The convenience of starting at the same early time on each race day is hugely appealing as temperatures are set to soar later on in the day.
The MyLife Dusi Canoe Marathon Charity Batch is now open and bidding will close on Thursday, 11 February. To bid, visit dusi.co.za/charity-batch/
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
