Varsity Cup Pink takes to the water, with a Princess!
Johannesburg, South Africa – Over the past 11 years the FNB Varsity Cup has supported key issues that help drive change in South Africa. Their now iconic Pink Shorts campaign helped raise awareness for the fight against cancer, women and child abuse and more recently broke blood donation records with the SA National Blood Transfusion Services.
In 2019 Varsity Cup is taking on a new cause – water safety! Working with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa (PCMFSA), the FNB Varsity Cup will take the message of water safety across South Africa.
“We are excited to partner with the FNB Varsity Cup to reach the youth of the country and teach them water safety and CPR. Our aim is to reach one million children this year and we’re confident with the help of each university we will succeed,” says PCMFSA CEO Ryk Neethling.
All Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield teams will participate in a water safety day hosted by the PCMFSA and the National Sea Rescue Institute.
“But this is not just about water safety and CPR,” says Xhanti Lomzi-Nesi, Varsity Cup Manager.
“We hope to spend quality time with all the Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield teams and share important life skills and lessons learnt on the sports fields. We’re aiming to make our rivers, dams and pools across South Africa safe while instilling a sense of pride and confidence in the hearts of our young people.”
Drowning is a cause of great concern around the world. In South Africa more than 600 children die by drowning each year, and many more are disabled.
Launched on 14th December 2012, the primary objective of The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa (PCMFSA) is to save lives by putting an end to drowning.
“My Foundation is about children who can become great adults, if we collectively show them the way forward with strong sport values and solidarity.“– Her Serene Highness, Princess Charlene of Monaco.
The Foundation’s mission is threefold:
- To raise public awareness about the dangers of water and drowning.
- To teach children preventative measures to decrease water-related morbidity and mortality.
- To teach people basic CPR.
The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation has established 149 projects in 33 countries, reaching nearly half a million people, mostly children. These programmes raise awareness about the crucial issue of water safety and teach people to swim. The Foundation also uses the transformative power of the positive values of sport by giving children access to a variety of sporting disciplines through its Sport and Education initiatives, which include providing financial support to talented athletes who lack the funds to realise their dreams.
The Foundation focuses on children and youth because they are particularly vulnerable: more than half the victims in 2015 were under the age of 25 and children under the age of five are the most affected. “Learn to Swim” and “Water Safety” programmes have been implemented around the world in order to fight against this scourge
In South Africa, the Foundation has implemented projects in Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, many of which reach out to underprivileged youth and teach them how to enjoy the benefits of sport in a safe and controlled manner.
For more information please go to: https://pcmfsa.co.za
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