A CAPE Town endurance swimmer has raised more than R60 000 for the SA Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) after completing a swim from Durban to uMhlanga.

Carina Bruwer swam 17km for conservation in four hours and 45 minutes on October 27, battling strong currents and stings from jellyfish.

The money raised will go towards two SAAMBR programmes: rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles, and bringing marine conservation education to school learners.

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The swim was supported by logistics group GoReefers as part of its See It All campaign.

Originally planned from uMhlanga to Durban to take advantage of the prevailing south-flowing ocean current, the crossing was reversed following an assessment of the weather and sea forecasts. Speaking after coming ashore in uMhlanga, Bruwer said the conditions made the swim a tough one.

“There’s something special about setting off from one coastal town and arriving at another, having crossed that distance entirely through the ocean,” Bruwer said after completing the swim. “I’d love to see this become an established swim that attracts athletes from around the country and beyond.”

Established in 1951, SAAMBR was formed to focus on marine research, conservation, and education, which also inspired Bruwer.

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“I’ve spent 20 years swimming in oceans around the world. They’ve given me extraordinary experiences, but they’ve also made me acutely aware of how much we stand to lose if we don’t protect them. Marine animals and ecosystems don’t have a voice in the decisions that affect their future. As someone whose life has been shaped by the ocean, I feel a responsibility to use whatever platform I have to help make that voice heard.”

The fundraising campaign remains open through a BackaBuddy page.

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