Golfing fundraiser raises R8,5m in six years

Sešego Cares, one of the charitable arms of Absa Bank, has raised approximately R8,5 million in cash and kind for various community development initiatives in South Africa and the Southern African region in the last six years, through its annual Sešego Cares Fundraising Golf Tournament.

Now in its sixth year, members and partners of Sešego Cares once again teed off with Absa executives for their annual charity golf event at the Rand Park golf course in Randburg today. This year, the golf day is expected to raise as much as R500 000 on behalf of three charities, namely The Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre, The Rotary Club of Northcliff and The Lusito Day Care Centre.

In partnership with Sešego Cares, the Rotary Club of Northcliff assists disabled people throughout Southern Africa in becoming mobile and better integrated into society through a Wheelchair Project. The Lusito Day Care Centre, inter alia, cares for learners with learning disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injury and Down’s Syndrome.

“We are excited that we are able to set aside funds from the golf tournament to sponsor one particular child who is desperately in need of corrective heart surgery at the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa (WSPCCA). This is a medical facility that carries out corrective surgical procedures on babies and children and we are glad that we can be of assistance to this worthy cause,” said Joanne von Zeuner, Chairperson of Sešego Cares.

“We would like to thank the various sponsors and participants for their invaluable support, not only for today’s golf tournament but also in helping us make a difference in the lives of vulnerable communities in Southern Africa over the past six years,” von Zeuner added.

This year’s fundraising golf tournament kicked off with a Four Ball Alliance which started at 10:30. At the evening’s prize-giving dinner, items such as diamond earrings and blackberry cellphones went on auction.

Maria Ramos, Absa Group Chief Executive and Patron of Sešego Cares, stated: “We are proud of the great journey Sešego Cares has taken over the past six years to try and address some of the challenges facing Southern African communities. The commitment of the members and partners of Sešego Cares to the golf day project is reflected by the funds that have been raised for many SADC-based charities. Let us go on building the bonds of friendship through the Sešego Cares’ fundamental principle - Ubuntu through cooperation and mutual respect.”

Lynda Bleazard from WSPCCA added: “We value the partnership which we have with Barclays and Absa’s Sešego Cares. Their contribution over the past few years has saved the lives of many children.”