Atterbury and USN’s crowdfunding project for Olympic medal winners, Spansaam (which means “team-up” in Afrikaans), has raised R1,050,000 since kicking-off on Wednesday, August 11, on the popular breakfast TV programme Die GROOT Ontbyt on kykNET (DStv channel 144).
Spansaam was launched via the Atterbury Trust, a non-profit organisation, and has received more than 100 payments from various organisations and individuals in the last 10 days. Afriforum also joined the project and gave Spansaam just over R100,000 raised through its own similar initiative.
The official handover to South Africa’s Olympic medallists, swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker, surfer Bianca Buitendag, and their coaches will be on September 9, 2021, at USN’s offices, in Centurion, Pretoria.
Armond Boshoff, Atterbury CEO, confirmed that South Africa’s latest Olympic world-record holder, swimming sensation Tatjana Schoenmaker, will receive R400,000 for her gold medal in the 200m breaststroke event for women and R200,000 for her silver medal in the 100m breaststroke event. Bianca Buitendag will receive R200,000 for the silver medal she won on her surfboard in Tokyo.
Rocco Meiring, who has coached Tatjana for the past ten years, will receive R150,000 and Greg Emslie, Bianca’s coach, R50,000. The remaining R50,000 will be allocated by way of a bursary to an upcoming athlete.
Due to the overwhelmingly positive response from ordinary people, businesses and community organisations, atterburytrust.org will continue Spansaam as a fundraising platform for similar future initiatives to make up for governmental shortfalls, whether on the sports, culture or community front.
Albé Geldenhuys, USN CEO, thanked everyone who has contributed generously for their support. “Success is important for nation-building, and these medal winners are role models who create hope for emerging young athletes who will one day represent South Africa.”
