Four brave and incredibly compassionate hearts: Shoneé, Katherine, Eva and Georgina, will swim from Fish Hoek to Hout Bay to support a 13-year-old rugby player whose life was irrevocably changed by a catastrophic on-field injury.

 

Cape Town, South Africa (09 December 2025) – Four incredible swimmers will ONCE AGAIN take on an immense physical and mental challenge for Rugby’s Caring Hands.

In January 2026, Shoneé Cornelissen, Katherine Persson, Eva Dirksen and Georgina Smith will brave a gruelling 72-kilometre relay swim across the unforgiving currents and frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean, starting in Fish Hoek and finishing in Hout Bay.

Their epic display of endurance and heart is to raise funds for The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund‘s latest and youngest recipient, Leandro Jantjies.

Leandro is a 13-year-old talented rugby player whose life was irrevocably changed by a catastrophic on-field injury. He’s now a recipient of the Players’ Fund for life – a lifeline organisation known as Rugby’s Caring Hands.

The funds raised through this swim will go directly to the Players’ Fund to help them continue their work of providing lifelong physical, emotional, and financial support to Leandro and the other catastrophically injured rugby players across South Africa.

This support covers critical needs, like but not limited or defined to:

Mobility equipment (eg: specialised wheelchairs and other assistive devices)
Home/Bathroom modifications to ensure accessibility and independence
Specialised medical care and rehabilitation
Counselling and psychosocial support

Last year, Shoneé, Katherine, Eva and Georgina raised a total of R159,948 for former rugby players Mandla Nyaniso and Marius “MJ” Van Staden. Now they’re preparing to dedicate every stroke to young Leandro’s healing journey.

If you would like to support their cause, you can find out how to donate here.

Sources: Supplied
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