Make A Splash for Cash

An Australian world swimming champion and a Beijing Olympian will be making waves in Mt Waverley to help orphans and under privileged children in South Africa. Matt Targett was part of the gold medal winning relay team at the World Championships last year and is gunning for gold in London. Backstroker, Sophie Edington, is a veteran of international swimming, performing strongly in the Beijing Games. The pair will join forces in a 24-hour swim marathon at the Huntingtower pool, Mt Waverley, from midday on Saturday February 25 to Sunday February 26th.

The Olympians will help locals swim the distance from Johannesburg to the Kruger National Park. Money raised will go toward the Simunye Project – which strives to improve and expand educational facilities for disadvantaged communities in South Africa. Recent projects have included the provision of hundreds of pairs of children’s shoes, installing a septic tank system and building a children’s playground.

Since its founding in 2006 in Melbourne, the Simunye Project has raised in excess of $100,000 dollars. Over the past five years, Year 11 Huntingtower students have been offered the opportunity to raise money for Simunye and then deliver the aid first hand, thus providing a unique experience for young people to become a catalyst for change. The children and often their families and teachers have helped build facilities in preschool and primary schools at the gate to the Kruger National Park.

A DJ will keep the Splash for Cash swimmers going through the night with the 2012 Simunye students taking the graveyard shift. Telstra has generously donated mobile phones for prizes and $2500 for uniforms for the Simunye students to wear during their volunteer work.

Telstra¹s Area General Manager Vicky Allen said, “We are proud to be involved in this activity. Supporting this event is about giving back to the local community, it is a great opportunity for us to reach out, which will enable the kids to help out with The Simunye Project”.

Matt Targett will swim at 6pm and Sophie Edington on Sunday morning.

For photo and/or interview opportunities, please call Mel Beal on 9831-9437.