News – Page 4 – Up with Downs

Winter Packs for Lesotho and South Africa

June 24, 2014/in News/by Upwithdowns

For the past two years we have worked alongside Anchor Your Life to help meet physical needs of children in South Africa and Lesotho. Anchor Your Life purchases the items for the packs, Up with Down’s learners assemble the packs and along with an American team we delivered the packs to children in Pacaltsdorp, South Africa and Lesotho. In June 2014, we delivered 250 bags full of blankets, hats, scarves, and gloves to help keep them warm as they face winter temperatures below freezing.

Immediately, the children (and adults) pulled out their new gifts and wrapped themselves in their new belongings.

You can read more about our packing projects with Anchor Your Life at:

Time for Winter Packs

More Winter Packs

Wine Auction 2014

May 24, 2014/in Events, News/by Upwithdowns

Over R230,000 was raised at our annual wine auction at Fancourt last month. Loads of fun was had by all. Thanks to Frederick Bekker of VAN RENSBURGS AUCTIONS and “The Blue Note”, father and daughter duo, Philip and Sian Gibbs for providing the music.

Bigger Than Us Update!

March 27, 2014/1 Comment/in Events, News/by Upwithdowns

27 March 2014. Prieska. Roche Schoeman has completed 1411kms of the mighty Orange River which is in full flood. Two dams of still water are behind him but the most challenging leg of the non-stop, unaided expedition is yet to come……… the dangerous, churning waters of unknown obstacles through Upington leading to the Augrabies gorge.

With the flow as it is today, Roche will complete his swim at Alexander Bay, almost a month before the expected date. What has continued to motivate Roche is the incredible support and hospitality offered by ALL South Africans along the river.

This is an initiative to create awareness and raise funds, to help people with special needs reach their full potential and provide support to the parents and families. All proceeds go to the Up with Down’s Adult Home Fund. To learn how you can help, visit: Adult Home Swim Fund

Special Faces at Up With Down’s

March 26, 2014/in News/by Upwithdowns

We love our learners at Up With Down’s. They bring a special joy to the world each day. Here are some captured highlights from last term…

Swim-a-thon

March 6, 2014/in News/by Upwithdowns

Up with Down’s learners and friends are trying to keep up with Roche. They have completed 45km and will keep swimming! The Bigger Than Us Orange River swim is an initiative to create awareness and raise funds, to help people with special needs reach their full potential and provide support to the parents and families. All proceeds go to the Up with Down’s Adult Home Fund. To learn how you can help, visit: Orange River Swim.

Up With Down’s Treats Roche!

February 17, 2014/in News/by Upwithdowns

Roché Schoeman is fast becoming a legend and a hero in many eyes. Especially those of the children at Up with Down’s school in Blanco for whom he has taken on the mammoth task of swimming the Orange River from source to sea.

Last Monday, 17 February, Roché finally reached the Gariep Dam were he met up with some of the children and teachers from the school. “They really spoilt me! It was such a treat to eat fresh fruit and vegetables, not even to mention the braai,” Roché said.

Although his trip has gone reasonably well, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for this brave adventurer. Two weeks ago his river board broke and he had to patch it up with what he could lay his hands on. After failing to plastic-weld his board together with melted plastic at his campsite fire, he taped the board with duck tape and made his way to the Gariep Dam where he met up with the kids from Up with Down’s. “If you can’t duck it, chuck it,” he said, laughing. He only received his new board last Friday after a communication gap caused the courier company to deliver it to Cape Town.

“I’m relieved that my new board has finally arrived. The Dam is behind me and I can look forward to the river again,” he said. “I still have a long way to go and don’t want to start celebrating yet.”

Roché has travelled approximately 140km in 11 days and has passed the 900km mark. He hopes to reach the 1 000km mark within the next two weeks. (Source: Eden Express)

Roche swims for Up with Down’s

February 11, 2014/in News/by Upwithdowns

GEORGE NEWS FLASH – Roche Schoeman, Georgian adventurer who set out a month ago on a one-man expedition of swimming the Orange River from source to sea, arrived at the border between Lesotho and South Africa just over a week ago.

On Tuesday when the paper went to press, he was at the start of the Gariep Dam…read more in the George Herald.

This is an initiative to create awareness and raise funds, to help people with special needs reach their full potential and provide support to the parents and families. All proceeds go to the Up with Down’s Adult Home Fund. To learn how you can help, visit: Orange River Swim Fund

2400km of Determination!

January 29, 2014/in News/by Upwithdowns

Roche Schoeman – 12 January 2014 – Lesotho – the source of the Orange River

Eden Express: George ER24 medic and former Outeniqua High School learner, Roché Schoeman, took to the Orange River on the 13th of January to realize his life-long dream of swimming the river from its source to the sea. This is a total distance of 2 400km and he is making good progress.

He told Eden Express that he is further than he expected to be and that he is happy with the distance that he’s covered so far.

“I expected to catch a lot of high water which was not the case in the beginning of the trip. There is definitely above-average water flow as it has been raining a lot.