Tony Lubner (left), founder of the Sabrina Love Foundation receives the cheque from funds raised during the Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge from event director Mark Collins, Magnetic South.
Mark Collins from Magnetic South, organisers of the Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge, said he was thrilled to be able to hand the check for R1 134 493.00 over to Tony and Suzy Lubner of the Sabrina Love Foundation reflecting the amount raised during the 2013 event. “It is a significant milestone in the fundraising efforts of the event and we are proud and humbled to be involved.” The Sabrina Love Foundation cares for children with special needs in the Plettenberg bay area and Collins said the event was an opportunity to contribute to something that was making a real difference in these young people’s lives, and their families, throughout the year.
Collins explained that the sum raised is made up primarily through the event entry fees but also reflected some very generous private donations. Thanks to the two presenting sponsors, Stonehage and Discovery, who cover all the events costs, 100% of all entry fees go directly to the foundation. “It’s wonderful to be able to be involved with an event where every entry is essentially a donation to the foundation,” said Collins. “It is unusual, even for charity events, that 100% of the event entry fee go directly to that charity.”
Eddy Oblowitz, Executive Chairman of Stonehage South Africa explains their involvement, “The Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge, with its successful track record over successive years provides an ideal opportunity for donors and participants to share common interests and experiences toward creating a tangible legacy. It is an incredible feat to have raised R1 134 493 during last year’s event. The funds raised will be ploughed back directly into the target community, in line with the Stonehage Charitable Trust’s philosophy of giving back through its support of education, health and social development initiatives.
As a company demonstrating its soul and intrinsic ethos, philanthropy and social responsibility are central to the operating culture of our Group. We have always encouraged clients and colleagues alike to connect with social issues they care about and to do what they can to help those in need and assist others to realise their full potential,” Oblowitz comments.
“Discovery is proud to be a part of the Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge. We have been involved with the event since 2008, and the event is aligned to our core purpose of making people healthier, enhancing and protecting their lives,” says Jody Foster, Head of Discovery Sponsorships. “The Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge is a highlight on the Plettenberg Bay calendar as it brings the community together to help special needs children and make a real, lasting, positive difference to their lives through the Sabrina Love Foundation,” says Foster. “This impact forms part of our commitment to be a force for social good through events that uplifts and strengthens our society for the benefit of both future and current generations.”
Not reflected in the number, but equally significant in terms of contribution are the efforts of volunteers, the supportive cooperation and assistance from the municipality, law enforcement, local land owners and the NSRI.
The annual Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge, celebrating its tenth year, started in 2003 with only 10 participants when Tony Lubner and nine friends swam from Robberg corner to Beacon Island to commemorate the life of his daughter Sabrina, a child with special needs, who passed away in 2004. The foundation was started in her honour that same year and the swim grew to become an annual fundraising event for the foundation. Currently the foundation cares for over 100 children with special needs.
Last year’s event, held on the 29 – 30 of December, drew a total of close to 4000 entries across the 9 different races hosted on Plettenberg Bays Central Beach and out at the Crags on the Kurland Estate and saw the part of the town become a beautiful wave of people in pink T-shirts. As one participant said; “the Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge is no longer an event, it is a movement.”
Despite the success of this year’s Challenge the money raised only contributes a portion of the cost of caring for all the children in the region with special needs which is the targeted aim of the Sabrina Love Foundation. The Foundation organises other fundraising efforts during the year to make up the shortfall. Anyone interested in being involved or making a donation can get more information at www.sabrinalove.co.za
