uMhlanga teen plans fundraiser paddle for penguins

UMHLANGA’S Keira King’s passion for the environment, our oceans and conservation is what motivates her to make an impact where she can.

This year, the Grade 11 Crawford International La Lucia learner is planning a Paddle4Penguins from Willards Beach in Ballito to uShaka Pier in Durban, on Saturday, August 12.

She will be using a long-distance prone board to paddle the 40km along the coastline to raise funds for the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).

Also read: Durban resident champions the African Penguin

Keira, a member of Pirates Surf Lifesaving Club, has set up a GivenGain page and has raised a little over R14 000 towards her fundraising target of R50 000.

“The aim is to get as many people on whatever crafts they choose to join me on the paddle. They can start with us in Ballito or pick up wherever is convenient along the coastline. This would be an opportunity for me to raise awareness of the African Penguin and bring the ocean community together for a cause. I’ve always enjoyed swimming and being in the ocean. To be able to do that for a cause and something I love really motivates me to make a difference where I can. Through lifesaving and swimming, I’ve noticed the amount of plastic which poses a massive risk to our wildlife, including turtles and penguins,” she said.

Keira is no stranger to raising funds for causes – last year, she raised R25 000 for turtle rehabilitation at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation.

“In April last year, I swam from Robben Island back to the mainland to raise awareness and funds for turtle rehabilitation. This year, I wanted to continue to raise the profile of species that are affected by plastic pollution, and that is why I had to do something for the African Penguin. They are endemic to the South African and Namibian coasts and are the only penguins found in Africa. They are known as an indicator species, and their health is an indication of the health of the oceans around them. In 2010, the African Penguin was moved from vulnerable to an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of threatened species, so they are vitally important to our ecosystem,” she said.

Also read: Everyone loves penguins…

If you would like to get involved in her fundraising initiative, email: keirajamieking2006@gmail.com. You can also support her Given Gain page.

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