A talented young baseball player from Grassy Park has launched his own raffle fundraiser to cover the travel costs of representing South Africa at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup 2026 after earning selection for the national team.

This 12-nation tournament taking place in Mexico from Friday 25 September to Sunday 4 October will feature the South African u-15 Baseball Team, who qualified after an undefeated championship run in Kenya.

The World Cup includes rosters made up of the best 13-to-15-year-old baseball players across the globe.

Matches will primarily be held at the Parque Kukulcán Alamo stadium, which seats 15 000 fans and will be streamed globally on Gametime.

Monumental achievement

This year, fifteen-year-old Hayden Garth Chamberlain, a learner at Fairmount Secondary School, was selected for the South African baseball squad after helping his provincial team secure second place at a national tournament in Boksburg earlier this year.

However, the family now faces the challenge of raising approximately R60 000 to cover the costs of Hayden’s trip to Mexico later this year, said his parents, Garth and Nicole Chamberlain.

To help fund his dream, Hayden recently launched his own raffle fundraiser, with tickets costing R50 each.

The funds will go towards covering the costs of his flight ticket and accommodation, which currently remains a struggle, explained his aunt, Lynne Albertyn.

Funding challenge

“We have been working, trying to get some sponsors and some recognition of the community but no one has reached out to us just yet. Only one person donated R100 so far. The support is slow. We need R60 000 to make this a success” she said.

Growing up in a baseball-loving family, he spent Saturdays on the sidelines watching his father play before joining Silver Tree Baseball Club in Southfield at the age of five.

“It would mean so much to us if the community could assist in any way, whether through donations, sponsorships, fundraising or simply spreading the word,” Chamberlain said.

The raffle prizes include: an International Travel Voucher from Your Travel Desk, a Country hotel two-night stay for two with breakfast and food hampers.

For more information, contact Nicole at 061 624 3979.

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