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eight years old, Keira is also a competitive junior lifesaver<br />
with the Pirate Lifesaving Club in Durban.<br />
Wanting to raise awareness about plastic pollution in our<br />
oceans, Keira opened an Instagram account when she<br />
was in Grade 9. “I was basically reposting and sharing stuff<br />
on social media, which was great, but it just didn't feel<br />
like enough. I wanted to actually do something to make a<br />
difference.”<br />
After she decided to focus on the turtle rehabilitation<br />
project, Keira's mom, Candice, helped her open a Quicket<br />
account for her fundraising and they booked the Robben<br />
Island swim.<br />
During her six months of training (both in the pool and<br />
the ocean), Keira did various fundraising drives, including a<br />
'funky socks' day at her school. “I got so many donations and<br />
people were so supportive,” she says.<br />
When it was time to head to Cape Town for her big swim,<br />
Keira was nervous, but tried not to overthink it. She was one<br />
of 12 swimmers attempting the challenge on the day and,<br />
after being dropped off in the ocean near Robben Island by<br />
a small boat, the group first had to swim to the island before<br />
starting their swim back to Blouberg. It took her two hours<br />
and twelve minutes to finish and her emotional and proud<br />
mom was waiting for her on the beach on the other side.<br />
“I got to meet and feed the turtles at the aquarium,<br />
including Bob the turtle who was recently released in KZN<br />
after nine years in rehabilitation. After that, I thought, what's<br />
next? I didn't want it to end,” she says, smiling.<br />
Keira has decided to do her paddle in support of the African<br />
penguin rehab project because they are an 'indicator species',<br />
which means they show us what state our ocean is in.<br />
“If you want people to pay attention you need to do<br />
something bold and adventurous. I'm so thrilled to have a<br />
great sponsor in the form of Hired Gun Coffee, who feel that<br />
their brand aligns with what I'm doing,” she says. “They are<br />
all about getting people to do crazy, cool and adventurous<br />
things with a cause attached to them.”<br />
There are various ways to support Keira. You can donate<br />
money, buy a raffle ticket for R250 (and stand to win a<br />
beautiful Lush hamper), or you can simply show your<br />
support by being on the beach or getting into the water<br />
with her on 12 August.<br />
Details: @battle_for_blue, @hiredguncoffee, https://www.<br />
givengain.com/ap/keira-king-raising-funds-for-sanccob/<br />
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