The trio swam all eight races of the Midmar Mile to raise funds for Wildlands Conservation Trust and The Learn Project. The initiative, which was started by Stan in 2001, now has a following of more than 100 swimmers who swim for various charities raising over R5-million.
“After completing a 12km fundraising swim in Benoni, I decided to attempt all eight events of the Midmar Mile. After being granted permission by the organisers, I swam my first 8 Miles in February 2001. In 2004 with Mervyn Bremner we established the 8 Mile Club with 24 other swimmers,” said Stan.
Stan has been swimming since the age of five and even though he is in his 50s and has swam 108 miles, he shows no signs of slowing down. “I will continue to swim the 8 Mile Club for as long as I am blessed with good health and the ability to continue.”
Completing his 100th was memorable, but the 2014 Midmar Mile was extra-special for him as he completed his 108th race with his son Simon (35) and his daughter, Nastassja (27). “It was the most rewarding experience for me to have completed it with both Nastassja and Simon. Especially since over the years I have assisted countless other children, novices, adults and even a blind swimmer to complete the Mile but never completed a mile with both my children. It took 108 miles to get that right but it is okay because everything is in God’s time.” He hopes to one day swim the event with his grandchildren.
Having been encouraged to be part of the 8 Mile Club, Nastassja completed her fifth eight miles this year. “I started swimming the Midmar Mile in 1997 when I was 10 years old. I started off doing one mile and in my teens took on a few more swims in the event and eventually, through my dad’s encouragement, landed up swimming all eight races,” said Nastassja.
She was proud of both her father and brother for completing all eight miles, as they had many obstacles to overcome. Though it was her last eight miles for a few years, she hopes to motivate her daughter to start swimming the Midmar Mile. She hopes to compete in other open water swims around the world.
The novice of the trio, Simon, decided to join the club and raise funds for charity. A near drowning in the third race almost ended his whole weekend. Perhaps, he should have taken a few pointers from his first attempt at the mile in 2002, where he describes his experience as, “ believing I was going to die.”
He sustained a cramp about 400 metres from the finish. He tried to flag down a lifeguard, but when he attempted to lift his hands out of the hands, he sank. His sister, along with another swimmer, came to his rescue and kept him afloat until they received assistance from a lifeguard.
“Just as the lifeguards were about to pull me out of the water, I asked them if I could have five minutes in the water to recover, knowing that once they pulled me out of the water, my chances of finishing the race were officially over. They left me to hang onto the paddle board of another lifeguard and raced away. I explained to the paddle-board lifeguard that I was doing this for charity, and couldn’t quit. Within two minutes of bobbing around, I became irritated with myself for being a victim and decided to just finish the swim, using only my arms. I finished that race in well over an hour, but I finished it”
As he completed each race, he became more and more emotional. “After the sixth race, I was so shattered that I couldn’t even talk and I could hardly breathe. All I could do was emit a pathetic whimpering noise, as my face twisted up and liquid squirted from my eyes,” he said humorously.
After a roller-coaster experience, he plans on returning next year where he wants to complete each race under 35 minutes. His plans also include swimming as part of the 8 Mile Club for five consecutive years and receive a permanent number. His swimming training has already begun – a lesson learnt from an ill-prepared year.
“Just to see the tears of joyful pride welling in my dad’s eyes made all the pain and exhaustion of the entire weekend worth it,” he said, of completing his first eight miles with his family.
Stan thanks his wife, Gail for all her support and sacrifices she has made over the years. He also thanks Mike, Lucy and Craig Pienaar, also from Yellowwood Park, who have supported the initiative from day one, with Craig also swimming the first eight miles in 2001 at the age of nine. The family gives all the praise to God, who has given them the talent and ability to help others.
– mbalim@dbn.caxton.co.za
