Blanket drive covers more this winter

Swimmers took a plunge in the pool in the cold weather at Radisson Red rooftop on Saturday June 29 to support a blanket drive for communities in need.

The drive, now in its third year, aims to donate as many blankets to youth at risk organisation 9Miles Project in Strandfontein to distribute to their community and surrounds for children from disadvantaged communities to keep warm this winter.

Liam Desfountain, coach and lead of learning and development at Radisson RED Cape Town V&A Waterfront, said the project has grown significantly over the years, with communities from surrounding areas also getting involved this year.

In the first blanket drive in 2022, the hotel aimed to do 100 laps in the pool to donate 100 blankets to the project, said Mr Desfountain. This year, the group did 436 laps, and donated 205 blankets to the project, who will distribute it to children in need.

“Our goal is to see 400 laps swum, but the donation of blankets does not depend on the number of laps completed.”

“The cause is bigger than the swim. People don’t understand that there are others out in the cold all the time, and swimming in the cold water for some time is nothing compared to that.”

He said the blanket drive was able to extend the help to surrounding areas as well, and the children from the project this year had written notes to say thank you to all the participants.

“The community is supportive in surrounding areas, and it excites us to see how this initiative is growing.“

The 9Miles Project programmes coordinator Shanna Harris said with the help of the hotel, they were able to donate to children in need in the community for the past two winters — and the current one.

“This was a wonderful idea, that we are able to do a kind act of service by swimming laps in the cold pool so that others can get warm.”

She said the project has grown to extend the impact the blanket drive has had to Strandfontein’s surrounding communities.

“Our project has grown too with the amount of children we care for, and the fact that we raise so much blankets, we are able to keep them warm.”

She said in disadvantaged communities, there were many who were not in ideal living conditions, and it’s so cold. We are happy to be able to help so much more as the project grows.“

Ms Harris, who also partook in the swim, said it was freezing outside, and really difficult to get into the water.

“It was so cold when I dipped my toes in, but I told myself it was for a good cause, and it was difficult because of the cold, but I pushed through.”

The public were also encouraged to join the initiative.

Westridge Swimming Club came out in support of the 9Miles Project. Gaynor Eccles, from the swimming club, said this was the first year they participated, after hearing about the event from a poster at a swimming club in Strandfontein.

“This is a really good cause, and an opportunity for the children to swim in a rooftop pool at a hotel.”

She said the swim also helps with safety of children, and helps with passion and confidence within the children.

Wesley Ford from Grassy Park, who is also the reporter for Tatler, CapeTowner’s sister paper, said he heard about the blanket drive through social media, and researched the 9Mmiles Project that helps at-risk youth with an after school program in Strandfontein.

“We always have the coldest and wettest winters in Cape Town and keeping warm is important. I have always loved swimming, so I wanted to use my love for swimming to support this initiative and I know that all the blankets collected would go towards these youth and their families.“

He said receiving a handmade a card to say thank you “really warmed up my heart”.