Daring duo gear up for non-stop challenge
To raise much-needed funds for the Ingane Yam Children’s Village, Bruce Hughes and Mike Morris will team up once again to take on a gruelling task.
TWO friends who share a passion for helping those less fortunate, Bruce Hughes and Mike Morris, will attempt the impossible – to change the lives of South Africa’s most vulnerable children.
Their goal is to stationary row for six days, non-stop and cover a distance of 1 460k – the distance from Ingane Yami Children’s Village to Robben Island.
Ingane Yami, based in the Shongweni, is a permanent, loving home for orphaned and vulnerable children. The village consists of individual homes and each one is overseen by a carefully selected foster mom who looks after six children.
After first hearing about Ingane Yami Children’s Village in 2013, Bruce fell in love with the heart behind it and he didn’t waste any time in connecting with Mike and getting involved.
That year they competed in the Atacama Crossing, a 250km, six-stage Ultra Marathon and in 2016 they conquered the Elements Everest Trail Race.
In November this year they will take on their greatest challenge yet. The two men will row on a stationary rower, non-stop, for six days, in one-hour shifts. While one is rowing, the other will rest and recover.
ALSO READ: Bikers rev up support for Ride4Hope charity drive
Impact rower, Stefan Terblanche, will join them during some of the difficult night-time hours and allow Bruce and Mike to get longer stretches of sleep.
Fortunately, they won’t be short on sustenance as SPAR will sponsor all food and drink for the duration of the challenge. SPAR is also a regualr supporter of the village.
The rowing machines will operate not-stop from 9am on Tuesday, 5 November until they reach their goal on Sunday, 10 November.
The duo’s goal is to raise enough money to build a new home. This will become home to another six orphaned and vulnerable children who will be rescued and knit into a loving family where their potential and purpose can be realised.
Named The Ingane Yami Mandela Challenge, they hope for it to become an annual event where others try and beat the mileage and fund-raiser goal set by them.
“Ingane Yami plays such an important part in giving children a second chance in life and instilling family values. It creates and gives these children a springboard to become the future leaders that our country needs. This is why we need the community to get involved,” said Bruce.
Ingane Yami’s director, Scott Hamilton, said, “Bruce and Mike have set themselves a massive challenge, but we have seen their grit and determination in the past. We are so grateful for their passion and sacrifice and we believe that the spin-offs from this event will be great, as others become aware of and involved in, lifting up the lives of some of the most vulnerable among us. It truly takes a village to raise a child.”
Concept2 will provide the rowing machine and necessary tracking equipment to keep tabs on the event.
To make a donation:
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch: 045526
Account Number: 251654605
Reference: MandelaChallenge (your name)
Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
