Milnerton Aquatic Club will be screening Greg Bertish’s film titled “Optimist on Friday, 4 May 2018 at 18H30. Greg will also be giving a short motivational talk on before the screening.

The evening will also be used as a platform to raise funds for two very deserving charities namely The Little Optimist Trust and NSRI Station 18 – Melkbosstrand.

As such, there will be both live and silent auctions on the evening.

The Little Optimist Trust recently painted the facade of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital and they are currently raising funds to give the Maitland Cottage Hospital a makeover as well (work to be completed in April)

NSRI needs no introduction, and Station 18 is based at Melkbos Beach – keeping our coast line safe for all water users. Station 18 is also currently the only NSRI station in South Africa with a dedicated life guard unit – also based on the beachfront at Melkbos.

Below are some links that will give you some more background on the movie and also more insight into the work of The Little Optimist Trust and National Sea Rescue Institute.

• OPTIMIST – Movie Teaser – LINK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eaCI0s9bRk&index=2&list=UU6o6Olbd4cGKcARuq8vUsXg

• The Little Optimist Trust – www.thelittleoptimist.org
• National Sea Rescue Institute – www.nsri.org.za

A little Optimist vs the Cape of Storms.

Greg Bertish, a 2- time open heart surgery survivor tells his story of courage and fight for survival against a rare tropical bacteria that attacks his heart 3 times over a course of 6 years. The story unfolds as he sets out to conquer a childhood dream of sailing an Optimist (a tiny 8 foot children’s sailing dinghy) around the Cape of Storms. His 8 day adventure takes him across the shark infested waters of false bay, around Cape Point and up the West coast of South Africa to reach Langebaan lagoon 200kms away. This journey symbolizing the 200 days he spent in hospital fighting the bacteria, and the R200 000 he aims to raise for the new ICU at Red Cross Children’s War Memorial Hospital. Along the way he meets a young boy called Adam. Adam was the baby that changed his life and set this whole project in motion. · The Little Optimist Trust – www.thelittleoptimist.org · National Sea Rescue Institute – www.nsri.org.za

Tickets are limited and are available from the office.

The organizers are appealing for Suitable items that can be part of the auction.

We are also appealing for donations to help offset the costs of the evening.

For more information kindly contact Dave Blewett on 0715341916 or dave.blewett@nullhotmail.com