AS the number of entries grow for the FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon taking place from 18 to 20 February,  race organisers have taken a bold step to address the impact of the drought on the province by providing water-threatened residents in the uMsundusi and uMngeni valleys with means to become water-sufficient.

The pioneering project involves the creation of a new fundraising initiative within the event, the Dusi Drought Relief Initiative, which will benefit from the auction of places in the FNB Dusi Charity Batch, sharing the funds generated with the two existing beneficiaries, the Dusi uMngeni Conservation Trust (DUCT) and the Valley Chiefs Fund.

The initiative will finance the purchase and installation of water tanks, and  guttering and piping at community centres such as schools, clinics, crèches and police stations that will allow local residents access to clean drinking water harvested from summer rainfalls.

“It is one of the great ironies of this drought that we are seriously depleted of drinking water, yet we are getting fairly regular rainstorms,” said Dusi general manager, Brett Austen Smith.

“Local communities in the two valleys that we race through rely on the rivers for washing and cooking water, and piped water for potable drinking water. Both are scarce commodities at the moment. We decided that the event would be a fantastic platform to make a difference to people’s lives, especially those people who we interact with so closely during the racing. This is a great way for paddlers to make a real, meaningful difference to their lives,” he added.

The plan to extend the beneficiaries of the FNB Dusi Charity Batch from two to three has been welcomed by the existing charities involved, who have added their support to the pioneering water harvesting scheme driven by the initiative.

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