THE June school holiday this year promises to be a life-changing one for a young local swimmer.
Jesse-Leah Läderach (11), a learner at Clarendon Park Primary School, is planning to represent her swimming club, PEA, and South Africa at the Hamilton Aquatic’s Summer Sizzler in Dubai.
The group from PEA are planning to leave South Africa on June 23, returning on July 2.
“This is an incredible honour and something she has been working very hard for. Jesse-Leah has been swimming competitively since she was nine, so to be invited to compete on an international stage is quite the achievement,” said her mother, Janine.
“She is determined to represent her country at the Summer Olympics in 2028 and competing in Dubai this year would be a great step toward reaching that goal.”
Jesse-Leah is a phenomenal swimmer in both open-water surf and in still water.
During her participation in the South African Nipper Lifesaving National in 2019, she received a gold and silver medal in her individual events at the pool events. She also competed at the prestigious Top 8 Gala on February 28 this year, where she received the victrix ludorum award.
Fund-raising:
A single parent, Janine has taken to various avenues of fund-raising to cover the cost of flights, accommodation, kit, and everything else Jesse-Leah will need to compete.
“As I’m sure you can imagine, as her mother, I am torn. I would love to be able to provide these opportunities but just can’t afford to,” she said.
In addition to a raffle and a successful gofundme account, they also have a Back-A-Buddy campaign at www.backabuddy.co.za/jesse-leah-laderach.
The Jenni Gault cheese and wine evening, which is scheduled to be hosted on March 31 from 17:30 to 19:30, is a private viewing and a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to Jesse-Leah’s Dubai trip.
For more info on the cheese and wine evening, or to contribute to the fund-raising efforts, contact Janine at 078 534 2012.
