Swimming the extra mile
Local swimmer uses his athletic skills to raise awareness and support for people living with disabilities.
SEBASTIAN Crawford, a Varsity College Westville student and competitive swimmer, has recently been drafted by The Extra Mile’s founder Jill Hanass-Hancock, to help the initiative with its projects.
The initiative uses sporting and artistic events to raise awareness and funds for people with disabilities.
“Basically, the initiative is about people going the extra mile for others. The initiative collects and records the dedication miles of all the athletes supporting the initiative. Every mile raises the awareness and support for people living with disabilities,” said Crawford.
Crawford has also been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that affects the brain and causes partial to complete muscle paralysis.
Despite his affliction Crawford is an exceptional athlete and tremendously positive and enthusiastic individual.
At the recent SA Short Course Swimming Championships in Pietermaritzburg Crawford won six out of his seven events and broke four new SA records and one African record in the physical disability events.
Crawford also sees his involvement in the Extra Mile initiative as an opportunity to create awareness regarding his disability and as an opportunity for him to give back to his community.
“It is a tremendous honour. Not everyone gets the opportunity to support such an amazing initiative. I would just like to say that I would not have been able to accomplish anything without my friends, family and my coach, Perto Nortjie, so I would like to thank them for their support,” said Crawford.
“Sebastian is much loved and admired by his fellow students. He has such an amazing view on life and an infectious personality. He is a huge inspiration,” said Leigh Dixon, student relations coordinator at Varsity College Westville.
Hanass-Hancock also said that it has been a pleasure to have Sebastian involved in the initiative. “He is such a great athlete, and he has enabled us to reach out to the public and he has made people take notice of the initiative and its projects. “
