Personal message

"I know ME as an adult would have helped ME as a kid to believe in myself sooner, dream bigger and reach for more quicker. I believe I can do this for thousands of sick and needy children. Help the LIttle Optimist and I to Inspire them! " - Greg Bertish

Having spent nearly 200 days in hospital in 2006/7, I was misdiagnosed, operated on, had IV drips 24/7, and at stages was offered no hope or cure. I used visualisation, optimism and my passion for the ocean and life to overcome, survive and get out of hospital. I was lucky, I had something to live for!

This may not be the case for many sick and scared children. Through my work with The Children’s Hospital Trust, I discovered these kids often have no passion or no desire to get well and leave hospital. They have very little to fight and live for. They face going home to broken families, one meal a day, and no passion or dream to inspire them to get better and survive. We need to change this!

An Little Optimist Project

I have partnered and am working with the Children’s Hospital Trust to help create awareness and raise funds for a new ICU.  I am using the little 8 foot Optimist “bathtub” sailing dinghy to inspire children & patients to get better and get out of Hospital. I want to inspire these kids and people to be positive, to be optimistic, to never give up and to believe that they too can do anything they desire and want, no matter what challenges they face.

As a long time sailor, lifesaver and big wave surfer & rescue PWC operator, I am  also working closely with NSRI & Save Our Seas  to promote ocean safety and ocean conservation.

(Part 1) The Ocean  Adventure: (March 2016) To boldly go where no Optimist has gone before!

200km in the open ocean, in the tiny Optimist Kids dinghy, representing the 200 days I spent in hospital.

From Cape Hangklip, across False Bay , around Cape Point, Past Cape Town, up west Coast to Langebaan Lagoon.

This amounts to 200km in the open ocean, along one of the wildest and most dangerous coastlines in the world! The longest, most dangerous open ocean voyage taken on by a little Optimist. The approximate duration will be 5 to 8 days.

I need to complete the ADVENTURE to implement the rest of the Project, the Kids Story book (already written), and the Great Optimist Race & Sailing program/the school for sick, recovering and poor children. With these combined Projects I aim to raise over R500 000 for the Childrens Hospital Trust , and create & donate 5000 kids books, and start a Sailing School/program to poor & sick kids.

To read more about the Little Optimist Project, please visit my website.

In order to complete this journey my little boat and I need some shoreside support in the form of:

• Safety Equipment
• Safety Support
• Sail and boat Chidlren's Hospital branding
• Sail and rigging spares & modification
• Boat modification
• Logistics and travel expenses
• Food, hydration, support assistant
• Accommodation for land support (driver/ assistant)

All Company donations over R5000 and who request Branding, will have their names or Logos appear on the Little Optimist or her sail and of course a mention/logo on our website.

More about ME, my INFECTIONS, SURGERYS, RECOVERY, ACHIEVEMENTS & HOW I HELP KIDS & PATIENTS  HERE.

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