Paddlers cancer challenge turns into community drive
What initially started as a challenge for two local paddlers to raise funds for a cancer-stricken friend has grown into a community drive to raise awareness of cancer.
After their friend, Kevin Hay was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Ross Fountain and Brett Hadiaris decided to paddle this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon in pink to fly the ‘Team Flamingo’ flag.
“Brett’s wife, Nicole suggested we paddle for cancer and we decided to challenge ourselves to do events,” said Ross. “We opted for the name Team Flamingo as a reference to when Kevin wore a pink dress during a trip to Transkei and was nicknamed the pink flamingo. We wanted to get awareness of cancer out there and raise funds for Kevin.”
After the three swam the Midmar Mile as Team Flamingo, more Toti friends pledged their support. “Gary Albers and Rory Taylor came on board. Gary’s friends Mark Dixon and Steve Cothill are also fighting cancer, so Team Flamingo started to grow.”
The group went live with a website, www.teamflamingo.co.za, telling Kevin’s story and allowing people to pledge. “The website will feature a wall of fame, where we can publically thank everyone who has pledged or helped us, such as Mike Signs, that branded our boat for the Dusi.”
Plans are underway for future events to fundraise, such as a women’s angling competition at Warnadoone Ski-Boat Club and a concert featuring the Gus Brown Band.
“We are also looking at doing the Mudman Series in March where we will wear our pink kit and people can pledge. Team Flamingo is not limited to just us – we want anyone who comes up with any idea to contact us, and it doesn’t only have to be money-related. If someone wants to do the Moses Mabhida Stadium swing, we will give them one of our T-shirts to raise awareness.”
Got an original idea? Contact Ross on 082-827-0465
082-827-0465.
