Royal bride-to-be Charlene Wittstock and extreme swimmer Lewis Pugh will compete in the Midmar Mile, in KwaZulu-Natal, in February, the organisers said on Friday.
“Not only do I intend to swim the mile, but I will also be doing so to raise funds for the Special Olympics, which is very close to my heart,” said Wittstock, who will marry Prince Albert II of Monaco in July.
She is the patron of the Special Olympics Charity Foundation in Monaco and competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics alongside silver medallist Terence Parkin, her long-time training partner.
“Taking part in the Midmar Mile will allow me to raise funds for the Special Olympics in South Africa and to support those athletes who really need the financial assistance,” she said, describing the Special Olympics athletes as brave.
“I simply cannot wait, and this is a huge undertaking for me and it's going to be great to eventually give something back by way of swimming the Mile.”
The 38th Midmar Mile takes place at the Midmar Dam resort, near Howick, on February 12 and 13.
Pugh will use his swim – he intends doing the Eight Mile Charity Drive – to raise funds in support of Dr Ian Player, who is the founder of the Wilderness Leadership School.
Pugh was the first person ever to undertake a long distance swim at the North Pole in minus 1,7 degrees Celcius, and in a normal Speedo.
People who want to enter can do so online at www.midmarmile.co.za. Entries will close at 10,000 swimmers on each day. – Sapa