This is a letter written to the Sporting Chance staff from a wonderful person who volunteered to be a part of this past weekend’s Kellogg’s Health of the Nation: 50 hour sports challenge… thanks Lynn 

Dear Sporting Chance and Sponsors

I got home on Sunday the 18.09.2011, round about 16h30, I was cold and wet, it had been raining that day, the wind was blowing, but I was content. It was the final day of the 50 Hour Healthof the Nation.

My story starts like this:

Thursday morning driving in our tedious traffic to work and listening to Cape Talk Radio Station, I caught the end of an interview between Cape Talk and Brad….. about a
50 Hour Health of the Nation, all I heard was, that there would be hundreds of kids….oh WOW I thought, I wonder if they would need my help, probably not, however I thought….Lynn do not procrastinate again, I thought, send an email offer my help and then at least you know in your heart – you were willing. So my friend “Google” helped me and I sent an e-mail to Sporting Chance.

So off I went, after work to meet Tracey, she briefed me on the weekend’s events and so I agreed to work in what ever role she would require me to fulfil.

Up early Saturday morning, so excited, but also nervous, maybe I am not going to fulfil “their” requirements, maybe they are going to say, “thanks for Saturday” but you don’t have to come back Sunday. Oh well I have committed – no turning back now.

Saturday 17.09.2011

On arriving, I could not believe the amount of people involved, I was given a t-shirt, which I wore, for some strange reason, with so much pride, as I still was not sure what was in line for me the weekend, but proud I was !

I have never seen so many kids in one given space at any one given time – They were all seated in rows in their different schools. “We” started with early morning dancing, just to get the kids “on a high” well they were. I was coordinating the body measurements – being their weight, height, waist and hips measurements, in addition to the sit and reach.

There was not one child who did not want to participate, they would line up with such excitement, just to do the next exercise. I had the most awesome group of students, they were all so dedicated to what they were doing, it was really unbelievable – well 18h00 arrived – too soon for me – and that was the end of day 1.

The kids lined up again in their different schools, and the music starting playing, You just had to be there to experience the enthusiasm from the kids, they danced, we danced – Words cannot describe what I saw with my own two eyes – the only way are by the photos that were taken – and then maybe you will understand.

I left on such a high note, and could not wait for Sunday.

Sunday 18.09.2011

Cold…raining and water logged fields with gusty winds….but that never stopped the enthusiasm from either Coaches or children. My station was still outside, but we had some cover. The students carried on showing their love and dedication towards the kids as if it was a hot summer’s day. There was such an aura about Sunday, I am still struggling to explain to myself how to describe the aura, but believe me it was an aura of joy, and that nobody gave up, just because the weather did not play its role, but as I have learnt in life everything happens for a reason and only time will tell.

Unfortunately we could not get to measure all of the kids, but that was a sign for me that the kids that were not measured will come back into my life sometime soon. All the kids lined again in their different schools inside the hall, we all danced and danced – till it was time to part.

On each day each child was given a “goodie” bag and something to eat, as they left to board their various busses.

I had the privilege of meeting the Kellogg’s team, but could not even say “Thank you”, the lump in my throat was too great.

In my heart I refused to say good bye to anyone, the kids, the students, the coaches, or even management for that matter, because I knew somewhere, sometime or someplace our paths will cross again.

With Love and Gratitude for allowing me this privilege of participating

Lynn Sevenster

This year, in addition to all the fun and games of this annual sporting extravaganza, the schoolchildren also took part in a serious fact-finding study, a 10-year follow-up to the original ground-breaking Health of the Nation study, which first revealed the magnitude of obesity in South African children. The resulting information and statistics will assist health and education policy makers to gauge where we are, so that they can continue steering SA youth towards healthier lifestyles.   The Kellogg’s Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge is supported by the national Department of Health Promotion, Western Cape Department of Health, Education, Cultural Affairs and Sport.

Thanks to our sponsors Kellogg’s in association with Virgin Active, KIA Motors, SuperSport Let’s and Good Hope fm for making the project possible. and to the Sporting Chance team of coaches for all their hard work.

The interactive format of the road show sessions have been well received by the participants and the messaging focussing on physical
activity, nutrition, health awareness and general fitness has been absorbed by the eager children.

The Sporting Chance team together with Kellogg’s dieticians have visited the communities of Ocean View, Elsies River, Gugulethu, Langa, Manenberg, Masiphumelele , Mitchell’s Plain, Grassy Park and will finish off in Macassar this afternoon.

The 2011 Kellogg’s Health of the Nation project in association with SuperSport Let’s Play, Virgin Active and KIA Motors with radio partners Good Hope fm, is a Four Phase programme that highlights the importance of physical activity and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Phase 1: the Health Education road show has ensured the children are well prepared to take part in Phase 2: the Kellogg’s Health of the Nation: 50 hour sports challenge and Phase 3: the Research Testing (Phase 3) this coming weekend at WPCC Sports Centre.

Look forward to seeing you there…

KELLOGG’S HEALTH OF THE NATION: 50 HOUR SPORTS CHALLENGE

14h00, Friday 16^th to 16h00, Sunday 18^th September 2011

WPCC Sports Centre, Rondebosch

The 2011 Kellogg’s Health of the Nation project in association with SuperSport Let’s Play, Virgin Active and KIA Motors with radio partners Good Hope fm, is a Four Phase programme that highlights the importance of physical activity and leading a healthy lifestyle.

The Ocean View community are participating in the Kellogg’s Health of the Nation for the first time, which meant they were all eager to be a part of the action. Phase 1: The Health Education road show takes the format of engaged learning, with the participants being divided into sub groups and spending 15-20 minutes at four activity zones as follows:

1. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: This zone highlights the importance of physical activity through a series of fun exercises & drills including shuttles runs, sit  ups, push ups and hand-eye coordination exercises. Variations of the conventional drills focus on emphasising the enjoyment of physical activity with the participants competing in: Sack Races – increase lower body strength; Ball and spoon races – increase hand eye co-ordination; Wheel barrow races – increase upper body strength; Sprint races – increase in speed off the mark; Shuttle races – increase in endurance

2. NUTRITION: This zone is facilitated by Kellogg’s dieticians and highlights the importance of eating a balanced diet & making healthy food choices. The activity includes a workshop focusing on food groups and the benefits attached.

3. HEALTH EDUCATION: This zone focussed on personal hygiene and the importance of washing hands, brushing teeth, keeping your body clean with emphasis on its relation to preventing TB etc. When? Why? and How? we should we carry out this daily routine.

4. FITNESS SPECIFIC: This zone focuses on specialised activities that advise participants on specific exercises to improve their sporting abilities. Through this participants are introduced to the scientific research testing that will take place at the Kellogg’s Health of the Nation: 50 hour sports challenge.

The session concluded with a group ‘Question and Answer’ session to illustrate the life skills discussed before all participants were part of a vibe dance in preparation for their participation in Phase 2: Kellogg’s Health of the Nation 50 hour sports challenge next week.

Day 2 of the road show saw the team visit Gugulethu where the participants from the schools excitedly gathered at NY49 to be a part of the Kellogg’s Health of the Nation project.

Look forward to sharing the rest of the week’s activities…

The weather has been sublime and we couldn’t be more grateful to have had a warm week in the middle of July. Not sure if it’s climate change or just pure luck with the timing, but it certainly made the clinics run well with everyone enjoying the winter sunshine.

The Constantia venue has again proved popular with both the rugby and soccer clinics being well attended. Of particular interest was the amount of players that come from the traditional Southern Schools that enjoy soccer and would like to see the sport being introduced into their school sports structure… we will have to watch that space.

Bellville and Somerset West venues have been busy with the three sports codes producing good results. Kelvin Grove was buzzing with activity as the soccer and rugby boys and girls were put through their paces.

The highlight of the week must be the awesome vibe and amazing performance of the close on 100 juniors and seniors at the WPCC astro hockey clinic. The coaching team was phenomenal featuring a group of provincial and top level club players and SA women’s hockey player, Cindy Brown and SA u21 representative, Taylor Dart. To have a coaching team with such experience and hockey pedigree is fantastic and the skills certainly rubbed off on the eager participants.

SA cricket icon Herschelle Gibbs was once again passing on his expertise and incredible skills. His presence was well received by the young Sporting Chancers and their parents alike.

Many thanks to our Sporting Chance team of coaches and our sponsors Flip File, Sportsmans Warehouse, Second Skins, GM, BIC, TK hockey and SuperSport Let’s Play for their continued support.

Durbanville Children’s Home provides a safe haven for these children in order to protect them from physical and emotional abuse.  It is a South African non-profit organisation and has been taking care of children in need for the past 127 years, since it opened its doors in 1883. It focuses on the care, development and rehabilitation of emotionally traumatised children through a process of therapeutic intervention and re-uniting them with their families if possible. There are currently 144 children between the ages of two and 18 from communities all around the Cape Peninsula in the home’s residential care.

Many of the children are unable to go home during the June holidays due to unfavorable conditions. So when Sporting Chance received a call from the Durbanville Children’s Home to see whether we would be able to do an activity for the kids to brighten up a day of their holidays, we jumped at the opportunity.

The Sporting Chance team arrived at the Home, where they were met by some delighted and eager faces. The youngsters were quickly split into 3 groups and then the fun began. Under the leadership of coaches Enver, Simon and Daniel, the kids were introduced to the  role of warmimg up, enjoyed sports specific shuttles, learned new soccer skills, and, most importantly, were being physically active and having loads of fun! The coaches also emphasised the importance of teamwork and helping your weaker team members to succeed.

A great time was had by all, and through the Sporting Chance Development Foundation we were delighted to have brought a small ray of sunlight into these children’s lives.

Keep up the good work Durbanville Children’s Home.

The Sporting Chance team met the group early in the morning and took them to our Sporting Chance Development Foundation coaching clinic being held in Khayelitsha this week. The students and teachers got involved with the children, interacting and participating in the sports specific drills.

The Sporting Chance Development Foundation coaching clinic includes three sports codes: rugby, soccer and netball and runs for three hours from 09h00 – 12h00 each day this week.

For many of the Judge Memorial students this was their first time playing rugby or netball and their enthusiasm and excitement while playing with the children was inspiring. Everyone got hands on involved chatting, playing and learning about these young children’s lives. 

After hours of active fun, everyone gathered to say thank yous and the children showed their gratitude in their unique way by singing a very emotional and sentiment rendition of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfika.

The Judge Memorial group then rewarded the over 120 Khayelitsha children and coaches with a specially prepared lunch pack which they had made up with sandwiches, juice, fruit and treats.

From the coaching clinic the group and a selected number of children moved on to the KIA Street Soccer venue to play some Street Soccer. The Judge Memorial group and the Khayelitsha children were divided into eight different teams and a mini-tournament was organised. The matches were played in a wonderful spirit befitting the nature of the day and the USA students and youngsters certainly displayed some impressive skills.

The atmosphere gave you goose-bumps and the interaction was wonderful to see with many of the students saying this was a highlight of their trip.

“Who would have ever thought I would have the opportunity to play Street Soccer with South African children on the streets of their township. It’s just an incredible experience and one I will treasure forever!” commented one of the students having just completed his Street Soccer match.

After some competitive and impressive matches the day in Khayelitsha was brought to a close with a small prize giving with wonderful aluminium water bottles supplied as prizes by the Judge Memorial group.  The presentation also included a hand over of a monetary and kit donation for the Sporting Chance Development Foundation. The R 15 000 donation had been raised by the Judge Memorial students through various fund raising initiatives back home after they had identified Sporting Chance as an organisation they would like to support.

To end a memorable day the Sporting Chance team took the group to the infamous Mzoli’s in Gugulethu to experience SA’s finest bucket served meat and to really get a taste of SA culture and flavour.

As the sun was starting to set, the Sporting Chance team bid farewell to the Judge Memorial group and one of the comments made by a member of the teaching staff with linger long with us…

“I have been alive for over 50 years and I can honestly say that this ranks amongst one of the best days of my life, Thank You!” 

From the Sporting Chance team a tremendous Thank You to Dave McMillan and his group from Judge Memorial Catholic School for their donations and support of Sporting Chance.

Since the kick off teams from 15 regions have been playing weekly, and after some fierce competition will be playing against one another in regional finals this week on 14^th November at 15h00. The top team from each league will then participate in the Street Cricket finals in Langa from 15h00 to 19h00 on Friday 21^st November, competing for the coveted Pinnacle Point Street Cricket Champions’ Trophy.

The initiative, which is in its fifth successful season, has introduced children from Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Kwezi, Nyanga, Langa, Elsies River, Manenberg, Mitchells Plain, Ocean View and  Masipumelele in Cape Town, Lwandle in Strand, Atlantis, and Kwa Nonqaba, D’almeida and Civic Park in Mossel Bay, to the game of cricket over a gruelling six-week period.

Brad Bing, MD of youth sports development agency Sporting Chance – who started the first street cricket league in 2003, says the initiative has enjoyed unprecedented success since its humble beginnings as a pilot project in Langa.

“This year we’ve included four new areas in the Western Cape taking the total number of regions up to 15. The emerging communities are filled with sport mad children and the street cricket league allows them to be actively involved in cricket and the enjoyment that goes with it in their very own neighbourhoods”, says Bing.

Regional cricket clubs and sports organisations in association with Sporting Chance organise children under 11 years old into street teams of ten. At least two members of each team must be girls and all the children must have attended school throughout the year and belong to a sport organisation or club prior to the start of the tournament – all part of Sporting Chance’s philosophy of getting as many children irrespective of race, gender or social class, off the streets, educated and into a sporting environment.

Streets in the various communities serve as the pitches, and are closed off for the matches once a week (Friday afternoon in Cape Town and Sunday afternoon in Mossel Bay), spectators are welcome.

The initiative enjoys the backing of the National Department of Health, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Education and Community Safety, and associate sponsors include Disney, Absa, the City of Cape Town, Lets Play and Good Hope fm.

For more information on the matches contact Brad Bing on 021 683 7299 or brad@sportingchance.co.za or visit www.sportingchance.co.za.

This is the first time the Oxygen Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge has taken place in Johannesburg. The 2008 campaign kicked off in Cape Town last month where over 3000 children took part.

Brad Bing of Sporting Chance, the youth sports development agency that conceived and co-ordinates the Challenge, said sports will include cricket, tennis, hockey (indoor and outdoor), table tennis, badminton, netball, basketball, soccer (indoor and outdoor), handball, squash and touch rugby.  The event was born as a direct response to the results of the Health of the Nation research findings on the physical fitness levels of South African children. The research project was analysed by the University of Cape Town/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa and featured in the South African Medical Journal.

The study of 10 500 schoolchildren from a broad spectrum of backgrounds across the country, revealed trends of obesity similar to those in developed countries more than ten years ago. The need for intervention strategies to combat an increasingly sedentary lifestyle was further highlighted by the fact that 14% of boys and 18% of girls were overweight, and that more than 3% of boys and nearly 5% of girls were obese.

The findings also indicated that children develop habits for life by the age of 12, which means that inactive children will most likely not develop an active and healthy lifestyle as adults.

“It was obvious that South Africa faced a serious task in getting the nation to keep active and participate in physical activity to create a healthy lifestyle,” says Bing. Primary objectives, in the light of the study and a decreased emphasis on physical education in schools, are to show the importance and positive effects of physical activity and sport, and to encourage as many children as possible to participate.

“Sporting Chance’s approach is twofold,” says Bing, “and includes sport-coaching and holiday clinics at schools, together with the organisation of national youth sport events, such as the Oxygen 50-Hour Sports Challenge project. As thousands of children, primarily from disadvantaged communities across the country are involved, we are largely reliant upon the funding and support of corporate South Africa.  The recognition by Oxygen Medical Scheme and Virgin Active, of the importance of events such as this, is a key factor in ensuring a healthy lifestyle is within the reach of all our country’s youth. ” 

For the third year running, Oxygen Medical Scheme from Old Mutual is the main sponsor of this event, and commenting on their continued sponsorship, Oxygen’s chief executive and principal officer James van Vught says: “Sports and exercise play a positive role in a child’s life and if participation is made possible from a young age, they will reap the benefits in later years, of a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle, with all the opportunities that will present.  It’s quite simply the best investment we can make in our nation’s health.”

Kim Webster CSR Manager for co-sponsor Virgin Active adds, “Virgin Active believes that creating an environment that makes it easier to adopt a healthy lifestyle is the ideal way to introduce children to wellness.  We therefore believe that the Health of the Nation event offers children the opportunity to learn about staying healthy the fun way through the games they play,”

Many accomplished sportsmen have benefited from Brad Bing as a coach and the Sporting Chance coaching programmes and events. These include Protea cricketers, Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis; former rugby Springbok, Neil de Kock; and current Lions lock, Anton van Zyl as well as Beijing Olympians, Andrew Cronje and Austin Smith. However, creating international sporting stars is not Sporting Chance’s primary aim and all its projects include a life-skills education component, focusing on nutrition, personal goal setting and the dangers of substance abuse, delivered to the youngsters in a fun and easy-to-understand manner.

“Team sports are a great way of teaching children essential life skills that can be applied throughout their lives. Sport shows us the beauty of friendship, camaraderie and team spirit and it helps us to deal with the hardships of failure, frustration and disappointment,” says Bing.

This leg of the Oxygen Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge, which hosted 3000 kids in Cape Town last month, is endorsed by the national and Gauteng Department of Health, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa and the City of Johannesburg.

The Johannesburg Oxygen Health of the Nation 50-Hour Sports Challenge is on from 14h00 on Friday 17^th October to Sunday 19^th October at the Southern Suburbs Sports Complex in Rosetenville. Members of the public are encouraged to come and support the youngsters’ efforts. Schools or individuals wishing to participate can contact Natalie at Sporting Chance in Cape Town on (021) 683 7299.  Details also available at www.sportingchance.co.za.