Young animal lover raises more than R6 000 for Pro-Life
The Grade 11 learner at Curro Nelspruit, Nathan Cooper, held a fund-raising photo competition where locals could submit pictures of their beloved fur babies.
A Grade 11 learner at Curro Nelspruit, Nathan Cooper, arranged a fundraising photo competition that ran from May 27 to July 18.
This Mr Curro 2024 finalist saw his Tail-wagging Photo Competition reach up to 259 entries, resulting in a total of R6 015 being raised. Individuals had to pay R20 per photo entry, though, some contenders opted to add a bit more to their entry fee.
“Don’t think you don’t have the power to make a difference,” Nathan said.
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The entire amount raised was given to Pro-Life Pet Rescue to use as they see fit. This organisation said they will use the funds to help with the animals’ medical expenses and daily operations. They added that Nathan was very organised, enthusiastic and professional in his efforts.
A panel of judges, including Pro-Life officials and teachers at Curro Nelspruit, chose the winners of the photo competition.
They were Erica van Jaarsveld in first place, Debbie Hendriks in second place, and Anke Willers in third place.
Nathan gave away prizes to the respective winners, including outdoor adventure activities to Graskop Gorge Lift Co and Skyways Trails, as well as branded mugs with their pet’s names and photos on, courtesy of Renthia Ritson, on July 25.
The first- and third-place prizes were sponsored by Skyways Trails, and the second-place prize was sponsored by Graskop Gorge Lift Co.
Pro-Life is a pet rescue, adoption and rehabilitation centre situated on the Barberton road, and when Nathan visited the centre, he was moved by how blessed his own dogs were compared to the animals housed there.
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He understood that there are many pets that are abused and neglected, making shelters like Pro-Life extremely valuable. He believes that animals in these shelters are given a better shot at survival by being housed, fed and given medical care.
“But many other animals lead a life of misery. I felt I had to do what I could, especially since so many non-profit organisations are battling to raise the funds they need to carry out their work.”
He was intrigued by how many of the entries for the photo competition were Pro-Life rescues. He believes that this competition raised the community’s spirits; they got the chance to share their furry friends’ photos and root for their favourites, all while raising funds for a worthy cause.
Nathan noted that this was an amazing experience and said the support from the community was phenomenal, how the people spoke about their pets warmed his heart, and he would love to do something like this again.
“During tough times it’s easy to withdraw, but by counting your blessings and realising that there are people worse off than you and by getting involved in your community in some way, you will feel better. Look around and see how you can make a difference in some small way,” he added.
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