MARTIN Dreyer’s work was internationally recognised at the World Paddle Awards ceremony 2015 when he received the Foundation Award for his Computershare Change a Life Academy. The academy has introduced paddling to the previously-disadvantaged black community of the Valley of 1 000 Hills.
The former ‘Dusi Duke’ and founder of the academy flew to Europe for the prestigious gala ceremony, where he shared the winner’s limelight with some of the globe’s most successful personalities such as Rene Holten Poulsen from Denmark (Sportsman of the Year) and New Zealand’s Lisa Carrington (Sportswoman of the Year).
Dreyer was bowled over by the honour and attended the gala function wearing a tuxedo that had belonged to his mentor, the late Graeme Pope-Ellis, the iconic ‘Dusi King’, who took Dreyer under his wing and moulded the early days of his Dusi racing career.
Started in 2008 by Dreyer after he and Thulani Mbanjwa famously raced to a historic Dusi Canoe Marathon victory together the year before, the seven-time Dusi winner and adventure racing enthusiast’s initiative had since grown from strength to strength and is now a shining beacon of development, both locally and abroad. “It is a great honour to receive this award, especially on a global stage,” said Dreyer.
“It gives me reassurance that what I’m doing is good, it reiterates my drive to continue and it is good to know that we at the Computershare Change a Life Academy are going in the right direction.
“Change a Life is a non-profit organisation and this exposure on an international level can only be beneficial to my academy and help create opportunities for those who are less privileged,” he added.
