A South African has started a viral challenge on Instagram helping to raise thousands to fight COVID-19!
South Africa (3 April 2020) – On Sunday morning Robbie Ball posted a photo on Instagram and highlighted what he is grateful for during lockdown and why we all need to be grateful for what we have while being mindful that there are so many South Africans that aren’t in a lucky enough position… this is how the Solidarity South Africa Challenge was born.
He decided to donate R1 per like on the post and nominate others to do the same.
“After 6 months of no activity, my second Instagram post in 2 days might be a bit ballsy but what the heck, so was drop-kicking for goal in extra time of a Rugby World Cup final, and look how that turned out! 21 days (at least…) of being locked down at home is pretty average.
I’ll miss socialising with friends and other family, I’ll miss going on runs or taking my dogs for a walk, but what I’ll miss most is driving in the Sabi Sands training to be a game ranger (what I was doing 6 days ago).
The fact is that my lockdown situation is a lot more comfortable than most people’s in our country.
This post is to raise awareness for those who don’t have the luxury of the internet to keep themselves entertained, or a fridge full of food to feed their families. SA’s sovereign credit rating got downgraded to junk status by Moody’s on Friday, a major L for the economy, and the reality is that the country’s wounds are going to take longer than 3 weeks to heal.”
Ball took a page out of Mike Wright’s book and is using his social media to raise funds and awareness.
Guy poses in swimwear with anti-poaching gear, raises nearly 10k for rangers
For every like that that his post gets, he will donate R1 towards the Solidarity fund. This fund was set up to help prevent and detect the virus, care for those in hospital/medical care, and support those whose lives have been disrupted by the pandemic. For more info on the fund visit https://www.solidarityfund.co.za.
“If, somehow, this post gets more likes than my student achiever’s bank account allows, I will fundraise and find a way to meet my obligation. So please feel free to share and be generous with the ❤️ button.
After listening to our president address the nation on Monday night and subsequently replaying the 2019 Rugby World Cup final twice a day since, I’m feeling incredibly patriotic and believe that we can beat this thing, but only if we come to the party together (not literally), in some way or another.”
Ball then nominated friends to join in on the challenge and says that the response has been mind-blowing…
“I’m sure that more than R300 000 must have been raised by now if people stick to their word and pay the money according to their likes.
I understand that there are many feel-good stories going around at the moment in these very unsettling times, but believe that there is the possibility of this making a substantial difference.”
You can check out his Instagram page by clicking here or post your photo on Insta using #SolidaritySA #IsolationGratitude and sharing the solidarity fund website address or backabuddy crowdfunding page!
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