Young boys showed courage in swimming pool

Young boys from Pretoria with life threatening illnesses were given the opportunity to test their courage in a swimming pool on Saturday.

Varsity College, together with Reach for a Dream hosted an event, Captain Courage, where an experienced scuba instructor, Kobus du Plooy, spend a whole morning in the school’s swimming pool, teaching ten boys, between the ages eight and 12 years, how to scuba dive.

Jade Hübner, Miss South Africa finalist and three Mr South Africa finalists, Clive Maistry, Anthony Churchyard and Armand du Plessis, braved the cold weather with the boys by also putting on wet suites and scuba-gear. Luckily for them, the pool was heated.

This was an opportunity for the boys to have their courage and bravery tested and for them be themselves, without any worries, for one day.

“As I am a scuba diver myself, I remembered how nervous I was when I went into the water for the first time for my training, hence this would be an unforgettable experience for the boys and it would hopefully give them an opportunity to experience “life” and get away from the demands of their illness, even if it is just for a few hours,” Heleen Clemons, student relations manager at Varsity College said.

Some of the boys had very worried looks on their faces when they climbed into the water and had to put on the daunting large gear. But after the initial scare, they climbed out of the pool, wearing big smiles.

At the end of the event, all the boys received medals for the courage they have shown throughout the day.