Cold water, apex predators, big swells and wind whipped seas are some of the challenges awaiting swimmers competing in the Robben Island Channel swim this year and young Abriella Bredell, 10, is readying herself for the challenge.
The young swimmer from Jeffreys Bay has been zipping through water since the age of two and she has decided to use her love and passion for the sport to compete in the tough open water swim to raise R2 million for the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital through crowdfunding.
Abriella will be the youngest participant in the history of the race and she chose Red Cross to be the beneficiary of her swim because of the work they’re doing for children who are supported and helped in the best way possible.
“I am very excited and I know that I will finish the swim, but I am most excited for raising money for the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. It’s hospital where kids can go and they are helped in the best way that they can be helped, which is why I want to support them,” said Abriella.
Abriella is currently in preparation for the 7.9km swim between Robben Island and Big Bay mainland which is less than four months away and she said that one of the biggest obstacles to overcome is the extreme cold as the water temperature is on average about 13 degrees Celsius.
“I train six times a week and love the open water. I have also started to surf in cold water, so I think I will be able to swim Robben Island this December.
“My ultimate goal in swimming is to practise hard and to swim the Robben Island Channel with my coach, Brenton Williams.
“This is my first time crowdfunding and I really enjoy it, just knowing that you can save someone’s life is awesome,” said Abriella.
Abriella has already raised
R42 029.18, through crowdfunding platform Backabuddy and hopes to reach her goal before the race which takes place in December. To view Abriella’s campaign or support her, visit www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/abriella-bredell
