Longridge wine estate had the opportunity to serve their wines exclusively to some of the country’s top sports personalities during the recent ten year anniversary celebration of the Laureus Foundation South Africa.
The function, held at the Sports Science Institute, marked ten years of the foundation’s existence in the country as well as the graduation of the first YES (Youth Empowerment through Sports) team leaders. Attended by dignitaries such as Laureus chairman and former Springbok player and team manager Morne du Plessis, master of ceremonies and presenter John Robbie, academy member and adventurer Mike Horn and a host of Laureus ambassadors, the event celebrated the powerful change that sport can bring to the world.
Amongst the ambassadors were Protea captain Shaun Pollock, swimmer Natalie du Toit, Springboks Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana as well as extreme athlete Ryan Sandes, Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe and boxer Bay Jake Matlala.
The audience were inspired by motivational speeches by Mike Horn, who is widely considered one of the world’s greatest modern adventurer-explorers and Paralympic swimmer Achmat Hassiem. Horn reiterated the message behind Laureus by emphasising that hope and skills can create significant change. “You don’t have to be a champion to be the best, just be the best that you can be. Nothing is impossible – possible is you and me!”
According to Longridge winemaker Jasper Raats, this was an exceptional cause to support. “We firmly believe in becoming involved with campaigns that empower communities and definitely support the ethos behind the Laureus Foundation. We’ve had first-hand opportunity to see the difference sport can affect in a community when we established the Longridge United soccer team in 2007. The team consists of Longridge staff and members from the surrounding communities and belongs to the Stellenbosch Soccer League. They have performed consistently well and had an exceptional year by finishing at the top of the region’s premier league. It has been amazing to see how the team spirit and camaraderie have changed people’s lives,” mentions Raats.
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Author: Ronelda Visser from Peridot Communications. Originally distributed by MyPR.co.za.
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Jasper Raats of Longridge with former Springbok coach and Laureus chairman Morne du Plessis Photographer: Peridot
Adventurer Mike Horn and Jasper Raats of Longridge with Laureus ambassador John Robbie Photographer: PeridotPhotographer:
