Although they each naturally have some big plans for their cash winning, the most admirable thing about this win is that both Jaftha and Lagerwey will be sharing a portion of their Tropica Island of Treasure S9 prize winnings with some special causes that are very close to their hearts.
Lagerwey Pledges The Little Lighthouse Foundation Support
Inspired by their son and champ Lukas who was diagnosed with the very rare disease, LMNA- Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD), Tjaart and Lize van der Walt set up this foundation with the aim of helping CMD patients and their families cope with the disease.
Characterised by muscle weakness and poor motor control, CMD is the term for a group of genetic muscle diseases that occur at birth or early in a child’s life.
LMNA-CMD, an extremely rare form of CMD, is the gene that makes the protein called Lamin A/C which causes limited muscle control and means that muscles will get weaker instead of stronger over time.
“I know Tjaart and Lize personally and they’re doing incredible things to raise awareness about CMD and to help other families in South Africa who are living with a CMD diagnoses,” says Lagerwey.
“When I was competing in Tropika Island of Treasure, I knew that if I won that shared R1 million prize, I would absolutely share some of it with The Little Lighthouse Foundation. Through every challenge, I was clear that I was playing not just for myself and my family, but for this Foundation as well.”
Jaftha set to donate to both the Habibia Children’s Home and Nourish The Children
Cape Town-based Nadia Jaftha will be sharing a portion of her prize money with Habibia Children’s Home, a sanctuary to orphaned young girls in desperate need of love and care.
“What Habibia Children’s ’s Home does to support and empower young girls is incredible, and I knew that if I did come out victorious on Tropika Island of Treasure that they would be one of the causes I would share some of my prize winnings with,” Jaftha affirms, adding that she will also be sharing part of her winnings with Nourish the Children (NTC).
An initiative started by Nu Skin Enterprises to sustainably address the problem of childhood hunger, this is a cause Jaftha is extremely passionate about which sees her serve as an ambassador as well.
The program begins with a highly nutritious food developed by Nu Skin’s nutritional scientists, known as VitaMeal, which can be purchased and donated.
Since launching in 2002, over 650 million meals have been donated to malnourished children around the world, with more than 130,000 children being fed around the world everyday thanks to NTC.
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