Page 64 - Logistics News - Issue 01 - 2024.indd

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Logistics News publisher completes 7.5km Robben

Island swim to fund memorial scholarship

DALAN HOLTON wears several financial hardships, ensuring that they
hats in the business world – one of could benefit from the rich educational
which is publisher of this esteemed and extracurricular offerings that an
magazine. As he’s about to hit the big institution like KES can offer.
50, he decided a year ago to celebrate
by committing to training towards a The fund assists promising students
gruelling and icy swim through shark- by covering 50 percent of their tuition
inhabited waters to raise funds for a fees at KES for their entire high school
cause that was close to his heart – the career, offering them the opportunity to
Daniel Lopes Memorial Scholarship thrive in an environment that nurtures
(DLMS). academic and personal growth. The
scholarship not only offers financial
To raise funds for the DLMS, Dalan support, but also encompasses
launched a crowdfunding campaign on emotional, social and academic
BackaBuddy with a target of R50,000. guidance through the TAG Foundation.
To date, his efforts have raised over
R65,000 – exceeding his target and still On 14 February this year, the cold
rising with the opportunity to help more students Atlantic Ocean sympathised with the challenging task
in need. ahead of Dalan and offered up rarely seen smooth
conditions – ideal for the demanding swim. The swim
As with many charitable causes, the story behind started in the early morning at Robben Island, covering
the scholarship is unfortunately tragic. During his own a distance of approximately 7.5km and finishing at
time at King Edward VII School (KES), Dalan forged a Bloubergstrand, though currents can extend this
lifelong friendship with Antonio Lopes as they were both swim by up to an extra kilometre. Motivated by his
in the school swimming team and graduated together. commitment to the memory of his friend’s son and the
Many years later, on 15 December, 2018, Antonio’s son, students that the foundation supports, Dalan powered
Daniel, tragically passed away at the age of 12 in a freak through and completed the challenge in an impressive
accident. In his memory, the Daniel Lopes Memorial two hours, seven minutes and 15 seconds.
Scholarship was founded to support students facing
The team at Logistics News commends Dalan’s
achievement on the day and the hundreds of hours
required to train towards this singular moment. He has
since committed to swimming the same route next year
to continue to raise funds and aims to reach a sub-two-
hour time.

If you are inspired by Dalan’s efforts or the story
behind the creation of these scholarships, please
consider donating to this campaign on BackaBuddy:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/daniel-lopes-memorial-
scholarship-5824967004013241637.

Alternatively, donate via SnapScan: https://pos.
snapscan.io/qr/Dalan_Holton. •

62 I S S UE 01 – 2024 www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a