The team at LFP Training has announced its recent sponsorship of Down Syndrome Swimming South Africa, a group that is currently competing in the eighth Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships taking place in Canada.
In addition, striving to create a safe haven for children in Randfontein, LFP Training has taken matters into its own hands in a unique collaboration with the Randfontein Children’s Court and set up a 100 per cent LFP Training-owned foundation fondly named Fountain of Hope.
According to Francois Pulzone, Head of Sales at LFP Training, helping the team to get to Canada is a huge honour for the company. “We are so proud of our swimmers who have proved that anything is possible. The team is set to make us proud on a world stage and we wish them the best of luck.
“These children are athletes in their own right. The team works just as hard as other athletes and is so deserving. They truly defy the odds and the results from this year’s world champs have once again cemented this. As of 24 July, the team has already won one gold medal, five silver medals, and one bronze medal. What’s more, our talented swimmers have beaten a junior world record, one masters’ world record and five Africa records,” he said.
According to Ina Fowler, national swimming convener of the South African Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired (SASA II) the same Fina rules apply at the Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation (DSISO) World Champs as at any able-bodied gala.
“This competition is where the best of the best swimmers with Down Syndrome compete. All swimmers need to swim to a qualifying standard in order to compete,” she said.
Due to physical size differences between the S14 category for the intellectually impaired, and Down Syndrome athletes, which is in the same class according to the International Paralympic Committee, the standard is slightly lower, but it still needs hard work to achieve it.
“As a result of their intellectual impairment, everything is a process, so it takes them a little longer to learn, but they are very capable of achieving big results.”
According to Ina, the Association’s biggest challenge is to try and give the athletes equal opportunities, but this is very difficult without funding. “We are so grateful to companies like LFP for believing in our vision,” Ina said.
Taking part in sports can be difficult for intellectually impaired persons, but it can also help them cope with their disabilities. “It helps them to focus and teaches them some sort of independence as well as improving physical health, life skills, and discipline. It teaches them that one cannot achieve goals without hard work,” she added.
According to Francois, this particular cause is very dear to their hearts. “The Down Syndrome Swimming team was in need of sponsorship to get to Canada, so LFP Training provided a significant donation to ensure that this dream could be realised. We are beyond impressed, and proud of this amazing team and its organisers,” he said.
LFP Training has been involved with the Randfontein community for quite some time now. This Mandela Day, they donated funding and got involved in the rebuilding and revamping of two Randfontein children’s charities, which led them to recognise the need for more funding and assistance in the area.
“We approached the Randfontein Children’s Court and are now in the process of creating a 100 per cent LFP Training-funded facility for children’s and parents’ counselling,” Francois concluded.
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