MOSSELBAAI NUUS - The Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (SAPREC) will soon be receiving R15 000 from a 14-year-old girl, who is swimming 7.4 kilometres from Robben Island to Blouberg to raise funds for the centre.
These feats of endurance, organised by Big Bay Events, are called the Island Escape swims.
SAPREC is in Mossdustria, off the N2 on the way to Cape Town.
It is a non-profit organisation, headed by Carol Walton and run with the assistance of volunteers, who rescue and rehabilitate stricken seabirds, including the endangered African penguin.
The birds can be diseased, injured by dogs or be victims of oil spills, for example.
Kay-Lee Mouton, who is in Grade 8, will be swimming the Island Escape in December. People can pledge donations now per kilometre that she swims.
Currents
The organisers assess the currents, water temperature and wind and let people know three days before the time, exactly when they will do the Island Escape swims.
Kay-Lee said: "You can choose to swim with a buoy attached to you, but I will not be swimming with one.
"You may not touch the support boat, because while you hold on to it, your time does not count. About every 30 minutes, you are given electrolytes. The support team also gives you hot rooibos tea to drink, to ensure you don't get hypothermia.
Open water
"I've been swimming since I was three. My coach was amazing. I swim in galas and in the Western Province Championship A stream.
"My main focus is open water. I have a great love for the sea and everything in it; that is why I chose to support SAPREC with my swim. My mom was part of SAPREC in 2005, when it started."
One December Kay-Lee visited SAPREC and was inspired by "how much love" Walton had for the birds in her care.
"Also, my grandmother lives in Mossel Bay," Kay-Lee said.
She lives in Moorreesburg, 90km north of Cape Town, near Malmesbury, and attends Dirkie Uys High School in Moorreesburg.
She plans to raise at least R15 000 for SAPREC and has already succeeded in raising R8 500.
Appeal
She said: "I appeal to businesses and individuals please, to donate funds to SAPREC for every kilometre I complete."
Kay-Lee's mother, Chantell Mouton, adds: "I also worked with Carol even before SAPREC was established. We worked in Carol's garage."
If you would like to donate to Kay-Lee's cause, find SAPREC's bank account details here. Please use Kay-Lee as a reference for your contribution.
Also, donations from international sponsors via PayPal are most welcome.
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