Swimmers brave the cold to donate warm blankets

A handful of people braved the icy weather as well as the water in the pool at the Radisson Red hotel at the Waterfront on Saturday to swim a combined 100 laps so that 100 blankets could be distributed to keep children warm this winter.

The Radisson Red hotel had partnered with community upliftment organisation, 9Miles Project in Strandfontein, who will distribute 100 blankets donated by the hotel to children in need.

The hotel had launched the project on Saturday June 18 by inviting the public to swim laps in the pool on the rooftop - one blanket was donated for every lap.

The concept was supported by the idea that the swimmers got cold so that others could get warm, said the Radisson Red marketing manager, Dayle Theunissen, who, along with other staff members, had also did laps to support the cause.

“As the days get shorter and nights get colder, we need to help those in need. The hotel purchased 100 blankets to the value of R10 000 to kick things off.”

The swimmers were rewarded with an entry to a raffle to win a stay at the hotel.

Nazeem Ahmed from Zeekoevlei said he heard the call on the radio and decided to head over to Radisson Red to do a few laps with his son, Hishaam, 12. “We decided it's a good initiative for disadvantaged children.”

He said the water was freezing, but he didn’t mind because it was for a good cause.

Chadley Camphor from Strandfontein, who is also facility coach at the 9miles Project, did almost 10 laps to support the cause, which he said will be appreciated by the children in the community this winter.

He said the water was cold, but refreshing, as he is a regular swimmer and loves being in the water.

The team reached 100 laps, with Radisson Red’s creative lead Liam Desfountain doing the final lap, before all the participants jumped in the pool together in celebration of their achievement of the day.

The blanket drive will continue until Thursday June 30. The public can contribute by dropping off any blankets at the hotel’s front desk, which will be given to the 9Miles Project to distribute to communities in need.

For more information on how you can get in on the action, follow Radisson Red Cape Town on Instagram and Facebook.