On 8 May 2014 the Walt Disney Company Africa launched the fifth phase of its
Disney XD (DStv Channel 304) Aim High initiative, which will be fronted by
Olympic gold medallist and South African sports hero, Cameron van der Burgh.
Disney XD’s Aim High, in collaboration with Nestle Milo Cereal, will offer one lucky
Disney fan the opportunity to realise their true potential. The project is aimed at
uplifting and inspiring South African youths to achieve their goals. Previous
mentors include Bafana Bafana big shot Siphiwe Tshabalala, South African Idols
Season Six winner, Elvis Blue, South African rugby star, Tendai “The Beast’
Mtawarira, and the world’s number one fast-bowler, Protea cricket hero Dale
Steyn.
Van der Burgh, who has been swimming since the age of 11, is the current 100m
breaststroke world-record holder and remembers being motivated to pursue his
dreams by iconic South African sportswoman and Olympic gold medallist, Penny
Heynes.
“For me growing up I remember Penny Heynes being one of my biggest heroes.
When I was younger she came to one of our swimming practices and to be in
her presence was so amazing. It made me strive to be like her. I know I can
teach these kids a lot of things but at the end of the day, I’d really like to just
inspire them,’ he remarks.
Van der Burgh is excited to be taking part in the campaign and says: “Just
spending time with the kids that are going to be entering, whether they are
swimmers or not, motivating them to do something that they love and impacting
their lives the way Penny impacted on mine, will be hugely rewarding for
me.’
Fans who would like to enter this once-in-a-lifetime competition will need to visit
www.disneyxd.co.za/aim-high or disneyafrica.mobi from Monday 12 May through
to Monday 23 June 2014 where they will be required to answer a multiple-choice
question. The entry will also include a written motivation as to why they should
be selected for this opportunity.
As part of their experience, winners will spend a day gaining valuable insight
from Van der Burgh, which will be filmed and aired on Disney XD later on in the
year. In addition to expert mentorship, they will also receive a year’s supply of
Nestle Milo Cereal.
Van der Burgh concludes: “I think that if you don’t have dreams that are big, you
can easily forget about them. We all have a destiny, and the journey I’ve taken
to get here – the people I’ve met, the relationships I’ve built and the lessons
I’ve learnt – is something I will look back on with pride. I think kids can aspire to
that, and this initiative will hopefully allow them to begin creating their own
journey in life.’
