Cape Town’s Lee Schoombie has developed an ambitious plan to raise awareness and funds for mental health, in the hopes of changing someone’s life.
Lee’s goal is to complete the Robben Island 7.5km swim, the extended Cape Town Cycle Tour Route (140km cycle) and the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (56km) in one day. He wants to complete this extreme challenge to earn enough money to cover the costs of a rehabilitation program for someone in need.
Lee (30) started the Carlstrong Foundation NGO in honour of his brother, who was murdered on November 25, 2015.
The foundation is all about using endurance sports events to create awareness and assist people who have been subject to violent crime, as well as people who suffer from mental and emotional disorders and traumas.
“Over the past few years I have faced and dealt with, both directly and indirectly, a lot of emotional trauma and I’ve first handedly witnessed the severe impacts it has on individuals lives and those closest to them. I came to realise, and turned out to be a valuable life lesson too, that not everyone is strong – even those that seem to be.
“Everyone has the potential to be strong (emotionally), but not everyone has the strength invested in them and the know-how – at least not without the necessary help and support they need – to face emotional traumas and mental issues.
“My goal in taking on this challenge is to raise awareness of mental health issues/disorders & emotional trauma and the severe impact it has on people, to challenge everyone out there who part takes in sporting events, to dedicate their races to a cause that is close to their hearts, to give people, who are in dark places, who are hitting rock bottom some hope and inspiration – but ultimately it is to change a person’s life forever, by raising enough funds to pay for a full recovery/rehabilitation treatment.”
Lee aims to raise R60 000 to fund an individual’s 3-6 month Rehabilitation recovery program. So far, he has raised over R11 000. If you would like to support his cause, check out his fundraiser HERE.
Picture: Carlstrong Challenge