For Teresa: Fundraising Swim for Breast Cancer

My name is Mario, I’m originally from South Africa and now live with my beautiful family here in the Algarve. Teresa was my older sister, a kind, strong woman who was always so full of life. She was an inspiration, someone I could always talk to, someone who was always there for me. Now I want to be there for women like her.

In 2019, at the age of only 49, Teresa was diagnosed with breast cancer. This led to her working with a charity called the Pink Drive, through this organisation Teresa and myself were going to raise funds by attempting a 7.5 km open water swim from Robben Island to the mainland.

Unfortunately, just 2 months before the swim her health began to deteriorate and she was advised not to attempt the challenge. We decided to postpone, and tragically she passed away 9 months later.

Initially I wanted to take on the challenge myself, but I was struggling to get over her passing. I was in a lot of pain. But now I finally feel ready to get back into the water, mentally and physically, and finish this swim for her.

The swim is ranked the 6th most challenging swim in the southern hemisphere due to the long distance, cold temperatures, strong tides, and open waters. But I'm currently training four times a week, in the water for three of them, and working with a great coach and team who are with me every step of the way. We're building up some great momentum, and we’re confident we can take on this challenge.

Inspired by our family connection between South Africa and Portugal, all funds raised will be split between 2 charities. One in the Algarve, the AOA (the Algarve Oncology Association), and one in South Africa, the Pink Drive. Both charities focus on the early detection of breast cancer in order to help save lives.

The AOA is in the process of building a new home where women from outlying areas can stay while undergoing treatment in Faro. The Pink Drive is raising funds for mobile mammogram units that can reach women who don’t have the means to travel to a city hospital.

We are looking to raise €20,000 for these breast cancer charities while raising awareness of this terrible disease and how it has affected the lives of so many people.

With our goals clear, I feel Teresa alongside me, that we’re still doing this together, that a part of her can live on through the help that we can give to these charities. I think about her during the training, when I'm out in the water, I think about how we are continuing this journey together.

This is not about me, this is for a greater cause, this is about making a difference, this swim is for her, this swim is for Teresa.