Ricardo Gressel widely known as WarriorRic, from Berkeley (California) in the United States of America (USA), was on a mission to build formidable servant leaders out of young people the past week in Hoedspruit.
WarriorRic and his local host and friend, Marina Otto, conducted a whirlwind tour of schools in the community before traveling to Nelspruit for Toyota Warrior Race on the weekend.
WarriorRic visited Drakensig and Mariepskop Primary Schools, Lowveld Academy and Hoedspruit High School.
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He also engaged residents of Jahara Substance Abuse Recovery Centre and the Hoedspruit Hub looking to bridge the gap on passionate neophyte farmers with successful experienced commercial farmers and the economic community.
It was WarriorRic’s third visit to the Blyde River Canyon Biosphere region in the last two years since his first visit as the MC of the Daniel Lion Heart Challenge at Blyde Adventure Camp, last year September.
The Lion Heart Challenge was the brain child of Marina Otto who reached out to the local community to host a first-ever obstacle course race (OCR) in the region to raise funds for her six-year-old son, Daniel Otto, who suffers from congenital muscular dystrophy.
“Although I got up the nerve to call WarriorRic, I did not really know what to ask or how to ask. I just knew I needed a way to draw participants to this first-time event. When we got to talking over the phone, I knew then that I got much more than I had bargained for,” said Marina.
WarriorRic explained that he loves the Lowveld, and that there is a genuine innocence, love of nature and willingness to get things done which attracts him to this part of the world.
“Nowhere in the world is perfect, but closing the gap on the current challenges here will undoubtedly turn this region and the nation into a positive case study for the world,” he said.
WarriorRic’s common message to this diverse Hoedspruit crowd was that everyone has something to contribute to society.
“The important thing is to act now. I believe that there are enough like-minded warriors, who will show up to critique and promote efforts of daring, well-intended young people, but we must be willing to be vulnerable, to be laughed at is part of the process of success. Just ask anyone who has succeeded in life, even their best friend thought they were crazy before they achieved their goal,” WarriorRic expressed his message.
He mentioned that there are two more events this year that will have him return to the region as the MC and Motivator.
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The Investec’s Rhino Lifeline charity run called, ‘The Extra Mile’ hosted by More Community Trust on September 21. A 10 and 21 km trail run in Huntington village, just outside the Sabi Sands, near Kruger Gate, to benefit communities in and around the Kruger National Park.
On November 9, is the return of the Daniel Lion Heart Challenge to Blyde Adventure Camp with proceeds going to Daniel’s Trust and to children with muscular dystrophy.
