IN their Friesian bovine patterned suits, the CHOC Cows who are the FUNdraising arm for CHOC (The Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa) always standout from the crowd, at any event they attend. This much is true for Durban North resident, Gavin Skevington who has challenged himself to raise funds for the foundation this year in various interesting ways.
The Virginia Preparatory School physical education teacher said he was inspired by a learner and her dad, Amy and Gords Reid, who participate in a number of initiatives to raise funds for CHOC.
Skevington has set up three goals, all of which he has achieved since December last year. When he raised R3 000, he ran a few kilometres with several learners on the last day of school. When he raised R5 000, Skevington stood at the traffic lights in the area in a cow suit to raise awareness for what he was doing. When he raised R10 000, he donated blood for the first time, a milestone donation as he is petrified of needles.
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“This all started at the end of 2016 when I heard one of the learners talk about her inspirational journey with her dad trying to make a difference to children suffering with this dreaded disease. We also tragically lost a learner at the school to cancer and that really hit close to home. That’s when I decided to do something. Last year, several of the teachers at the school dressed up in cow costumes and swam the aQuellé Midmar Mile for CHOC. We managed to raise R25 000 which was incredible and this year we are doing something similar in the hopes of raising more money,” he said.
The 34-year-old is also hosting a bowls fun day at the Parkhill Bowling Club on 11 March to raise funds for CHOC and a children’s home in Ballito.
- He has set up a GivenGain account where residents can donate to the cause.a
