Parktown Boys’ High School hosted a co-ed swimming gala on 3 February, which raises money for the Guild Cottage Treatment Centre for Troubled Children.
Schools that participated were Joburg schools Parktown Boys High, Jeppe Boys High School, Jeppe Girls High School, King Edwards High School, St Benedict’s College and St David’s Marist Inanda, and Natal’s Durban High School, Westville Boys High School and Glenwood High School.
To take part in the gala, each school paid a fee of R500 and the money went to the Guild Cottage to assist in the remedial programmes offered by the organization to sexually abused children.
The executive director of the centre, Nomvula Vilakazi, said she was invited by the school and one of their sponsors, Mad Swimmers, a charity organization involved in daring swimming challenges to raise funds for children, not only to receive proceeds but to participate in the gala as well. She added that it was great to see the girls test their limits, as some feared they could not compete with some of the swimmers, but when they hit the water, they all did their best.
“It was awesome to have people and initiatives like these to help us as this is what keeps our organisation afloat,” said Vilakazi.
Parktown Boys’ swimming coach and organiser, Jarred de Jonge said that although he battled to get more girls to participate, the turnout and great team spirit was awesome to see. “Best thing was that the girls from Guild Cottage were able to come out and swim too.”
He added that everything went well and that it was fantastic that those girls’ schools that could not make it, still donated money to the organisation.
The standout event for the evening was the candle race, where swimmers would swim to the other side of the pool with a lit candle, without it going out. “It was great to see all the swimmers work together to keep the flame alive.”
Top schools in the gala were:
1st Glenwood High School – 229 points
2nd Westville High School – 202 points
3rd King Edward High School – 197 points.
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