HACT’s gogos kick up a storm
The gogos took on five Australian cricket team members in games of soccer and cricket on Thursday 2 March.
FIVE top players from the Australian cricket team, which is in Durban for the first T20 of the three-match series, spent an afternoon at the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust as part of the Cricket Cares campaign.
The team learnt about HIV/AIDS in South Africa, had a tour of the centre and played a friendly game of soccer against a team of gogos, who are busy preparing for HACT’s Gogolympics, taking place on April 22. The grannies won the soccer match 4/2, much to the shock of the Australian team.
The gogos took on the Australian team in a game of cricket – a game that was new to them.
Cricket Australia donated sporting equipment such as balls, bibs, cricket bats and sporting equipment to HACT for use by the gogos in the Gogolympics.
Olivia Myeza, CEO of HACT, said the day brought much joy. “We were delighted that the Aussie cricketers chose to spend their spare time with us at Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust. So often top-level sports players can travel the world, but rarely see more than the playing fields and the hotels. That the Australian team chose to come and learn about our mission of providing unconditional love and hope to people impacted by HIV/AIDS was really amazing.
They came with such open, humble hearts and genuinely wanted to learn about the hardships of our gogos and our communities who are struggling with the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” she said.
“The cricketers also donated an official Cricket Australia T20 World Cup India 2016 T-shirt (size small), signed by the entire Australian cricket team, to HACT. The T-shirt is one of a kind and has HILLCREST 1 on the back. The shirt is being auctioned off by HACT to raise money for the upcoming Gogolympics and the granny support groups. Bids can be e-mailed to olivia@hillaids.org.za.
“We are encouraging cricket fans to bid on this amazing T-shirt – the money will be used to ensure that 2 000 grannies can participate in the Gogolympics in April and that throughout the year they receive support, empowerment, encouragement and skills training to help them in their plight of being grandmothers who have lost children to AIDS and are now caring for their orphaned grandchildren,” said Olivia.
