Bindi, the teddy bear, will swim for a good cause

Bindi, the world’s most courageous teddy bear, will yet again fight all her fears to create awareness and raise funds for The Teddy Bear Foundation.

Bindi, the spokesbear for the foundation, will be courageous and swim the 2020 aQuelle Midmar Mile.

She will, however, not have to face this challenge alone.

Bindi will yet again be in the company of Olympic swimmer Natalie du Toit and Olympic Fencer Elvira Wood, together with the local swimmers of Team Fortissimo Deon van Niekerk, Arthur Blake, Armas Ferreira, Stephan Cilliers and newcomers Robyn Merry, Meagan Harris, John Karle and Ricus Venter.

This year, Bindi will also be joined by learners from The Ridge School in Johannesburg.

There is also a very special newcomer to the team. Callista Wood, Elvira’s 10-year-old daughter, will swim her second aQuelle Midmar Mile and this year in the colours of The Teddy Bear Foundation.

For the children

The Teddy Bear Foundation, based in Parktown, assists abused children through conducting forensic medical exams, forensic assessments, counselling, psychological assistance, court preparation as well as a diversion programme for youth sexual offenders.

Apart from creating awareness of what the foundation does, Bindi and Team Fortissimo aims to raise R50 000 for the clinic.

When it comes to fund-raising, Bindi points out that it is very expensive to assist the children.

“We know they cannot pay, they are just children. We need the money to help them and ensure they grow up in a safe environment where nobody will hurt them ever again,” said Bindi.

The Teddy Bear Foundation originated in 1986 in response to an urgent need for medical examinations for sexually abused children.

From there, it has grown into a fully-fledged service for abused children.

Rescue the children

“Our mission is to minimise the secondary harm to children and their families when they enter the child- protection system by providing expertise, information and support in order to make their journey a healing one.

Each journey includes a medical examination, forensic assessment, therapy and court preparation, which all cost money,” said Dalene Bishop, donor liaison officer at the foundation.

“Please support our swim to rescue abused children from the deep waters they find themselves in, by enabling The Teddy Bear Foundation to continue to provide the specialised support services for victims of abuse,” the team said.

Bindi thanks all her supporters and the people who helped get the team together including famous jeweller Jenna Clifford, who introduced Natalie to Dalene and the foundation, Hamleys Toy Store, as well as Gino Mazza, who makes the greatest pizzas on the planet at his restaurant, Gino’s in Robertsham, in the South of Johannesburg.

“He always welcomes the team and feeds us before we go for our swim,” said Bindi.

On the double

Bindi will swim the aQuelle Midmar Mile on February 8. She will yet again swim a “double” mile.

Swimmers can look out for her in race two and race three.

If you would like to support the team, you can use the BackaBuddy system to make a donation.

“The BackaBuddy system enables you to make a donation easily. It really only takes a minute of your time and will make all the difference to the children at The Teddy Bear Foundation,” said Bishop.

You can also support the team of swimmers by sponsoring the foundation. Email Dalene at daleneb@ttbc.org.za or alternatively, deposit a donation directly into their bank account at Nedbank: Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children; account number 1944183361; branch code 194405; branch name: Parktown.

Please include your name and Midmar as a reference. Alternatively, you can visit:

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/Back-a-Bear-Midmar-Mile-2020