Phumelela makes Sihle’s dream come true
Reach for a Dream: Fulfilling the dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses in South Africa
SIHLE Botman’s heart was beating when he heard that he will have the opportunity to ride a horse on his own. But his dream became a reality when he met two of the greatest jockeys in South Africa.
Reach for a Dream is an organisation that reaches out to children who have a specific dream and then fulfil that dream.
“In our programmes we fulfil the dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses in South Africa,” said Vuyelwa, one of the members of Reach for a Dream. “We make contact with the children and complete an access form in order for us to find out what they really dream of in life. This is how we find out that Sihle wants to go for a horseriding session. Through the relevant procedures we contact Phumelela and they accommodate us in this request.”
Sihle dream became a reality when he met Piere Strydom from Alberton, currently one of South Africa’s top jockeys and former top jockey, James Maree from Thoroughbred Racing Development Centre and who is currently running the Workersriders courses in South Africa in Eikenhof.
He was given the opportunity to ride one of Maree’s horses on Wednesday August 6 at the Development Centre together with Strydom, who was on another horse doing the rounds in the ring as well as on the track.
Nowadays there are many children who are in the same position as Sihle, they just want to do something they really like.
“We were approached by Reach for a Dream with a request, and immediately all the roleplayers agreed that they wanted to be part of the process to give Sihle the opportunity to ride on a horse. Piere Strydom and James Maree said that they will help fulfil this dream from the 12-year-old, and we arranged having them all together,” said Patrick Davis, Phumelela Racing Executive.
Sihle is treated at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, and because of his medical condition he is limited to experience life in full. At Reach For A Dream every day is spent working with children between the ages of three and 18 who are fighting life-threatening illnesses. “We strive to fulfil the dreams of these children across South Africa, who have been diagnosed with illnesses such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart conditions and renal failure, to name a few,” said Vuyelwa. “Today Sihle had his dream come true.”
“My uncles once rode horses and I want to experience that and always see beautiful horses,” said Sihle Botman. Strydom gave him a framed picture with his signature and gloves and a quirt to let him dream forever.
“The power of a dream is the faith in things unseen. It is the courage to embrace your fear, no matter where you are, to reach your star and to realise the power of your dream…”
