American bodybuilders visit Moot to make a difference in children’s lives

American bodybuilder Ray Clark and his wife Jannet took their South African tour to make a difference in people’s lives to Moot in the Capital City on Wednesday.

The aim of the visit was to encourage Prospectus Novus school learners in Mayville to stay away from drugs and bullying to realise their dreams or be successful in life.

Addressing the primary school learners, the two guests vividly explained the negative effects of drugs and bullying on the future of a child.

“The first two keys that gonna open up the door to your dream are to love God and to love others as you love yourself,” Ray told the learners.

He said putting God first meant putting others first, saying that doing this every day was important for the realisation of success.

The two-time National Gym Association Pro Universe overall champion – 2014 and 2018 – said it was also important to work hard for your dream.

“You got to work for your dream,” the drug-free bodybuilder said.

“It’s gonna be hard but, you know what, you can’t quit – do not give up.”

As a bullying survivor himself, he shared a glimpse of his childhood experience as a victim of his stepfather’s bullying that nearly destroyed his future.

“Because of the physical abuse that I went through, I developed a learning disability,” he said, citing that he was beaten by his stepfather until he had to be taken away from him by the police.

The law enforcement agency relocated him to an orphanage, he said.

He revealed that because of this terrible experience, he developed hatred, anger and unforgiveness.

“I didn’t know how to release my problems.”

He, however, revealed that while his stepfather was a dream-breaker, his grandmother had come to his rescue as she helped him to continue to work hard for his dream, saying that she was a dream-maker.

“I had a first dream-maker coming to my life and that was my grandma.”

He said dream-makers were individuals who come to one’s life for a special time and purpose.

“A dream-maker is someone who challenges you to not give up on your dream and I am proud to be raised by my grandmother.”

He then urged the learners to be extremely careful of breakers of young dreams such as those who offer children drugs and alcohol.

“You cannot be an exceptional learner if you’re doing drugs and trying to be cool by drinking alcohol. You cannot be that winner or champion because alcohol will destroy your brain, liver and entire health,” he said.

He said his second dream maker was his class teacher, who helped him overcome his learning disorder.

“She taught me the ability to read and because of what she invested in me, I’m reading five books a month on average.”

Jannet, who is also a bodybuilder, urged the learners not to be afraid to ask for help.

“A true champion is not afraid to ask for help because no one ever became successful by himself,” she said.

She said if one is going through a tough time such as physical or emotional abuse, they must report it to a teacher, parent or the police.

Ray and Jannet arrived in South Africa on September 19 and return to America on October 25.

During this five-week tour, they plan to visit between 75 and 80 schools and tertiary institutions.

Also in attendance were representatives of the Wonderboompoort police and 3 C Ministries.

Wonderboompoort police officer Sergeant Larisa Laas warned the learners about the danger of abuse to their lives and urged them to refrain from it.

“People who are bullied may become quiet, lonely, depressed and ultimately commit suicide,” she said.

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