Latest News

On Wednesday 11 March, The Little Optimist Trust held a fundraiser for Dustin Heinze, or Dusty as he is fondly known, at Atlantic Boat Club. Dusty works as a skipper of a sport fishing boat...

On the 10th of March 2020 we officially opened The Little Optimist Sailing Academy. Kids from St Joseph’s Children’s Home took part in sailing therapy while sponsors and friends joined us for this momentous occasion....

INSPIRATION | MOVIE | PIZZA | HOT CHOCOLATE The children at Maitland Cottage Orthopedic Hospital were treated to an evening filled with spoils and inspiration!   Caleb Swanepoel, amputee, spoke to the kids about being...

WOW The Little Optimist outdid itself this year – please see the link to the Newsclip report below. An AVE of R1 521 955, 56 in media coverage for the 2019 Little Optimist Race! (PR...

Dear Bertish Brothers Thank you so much for your delightful donation of Christmas gifts. Your donation was greatly appreciated and what a treat for our patients who are so grateful and pleased to be given a...

In April 2019, Umthawelanga Educare in Mfuleni was on the brink of closure because of health and safety concerns. But thanks to an intervention from The Little Optimist Trust, the revamped school was re-opened on...

To the Little Optimist Trust Team Huge thanks to Greg Bertish, who visited us at our Advertising Agency in Amsterdam in November this year. We will be making a  nice donation to the Trust this...

https://youtu.be/h2e92VQZ2X0

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Christmas will be a little more cheerful for the patients at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital after the annual Paddle 4 Presents event collected almost 300 toys that will be donated to the institution. More than 60...

Greg Bertish, founder and Ambassador of The Little Optimist Trust was honoured to receive the DAME Charity Award at the METS Trade Show in Amsterdam last week. The Trust is joint winner with Sailing4handicaps, a...

PR exceeds R4.5 million! The second edition of The Great Optimist Race had PR coverage to the value of R4 565 866, exceeding last year’s total by over R200 000. A great achievement for our...

THATS WHAT WE DO! Thank you @metstrade @raiamsterdam and @dameawards Thank you @twooceansmarine @ullman_sails @italtilesa You have helped us make a difference! And for that we are eternally grateful!  #amsterdam #capetown #southafrica #thelittleoptimist @optimists_extreme @sailoptimist @sailleisure @sailingcentral @southafricansailing @sailingmagazine...

Once again – a huge thank you. It was amazing having you talk at our school. We are still looking at a way to get a donation towards your organisation and will keep in touch.

At The Little Optimist Trust we are passionate about sailing therapy and our presence at The Cape Town International Boat Show was another opportunity for us to bring kids down to the water and get...

Come and join us on the 28 November!

https://thelittleoptimisttrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/The-Great-Optimist-Race-video.mp4

Pippa in conversation with Greg Bertish, a big wave surfer, a sailor, a lifesaver, and the founder of theLittle Optimist Trust and organiser of this race. Please listen below

Cape Town – Voice SA season 2 winner Craig Lucas will swop his microphone for a boat when he sails an Optimist (children’s dinghy) in the Great Optimist Race at the V&A Waterfront tomorrow. His...

Shark-attack survivor Caleb Swanepoel showed disability is no match for determination when he claimed the Great Optimist Race winner title for the second year in a row at the V&A Waterfront this Saturday. The Stellenbosch...

Cape Town – Shark attack survivor Caleb Swanepoel showed disability is no match for determination when he claimed the Great Optimist Race winner title for the second year in a row at the V&A Waterfront...

Joining Pippa on the yellow couch is Josie Borain, a woman who’s enjoyed success on both sides of the camera, initially as South Africa’s first international supermodel, then later as an acclaimed photographer.

A special group of children experienced the joy of sailing, learned a few life lessons, and got a dose of inspiration at the Zeekoevlei Yacht Club on Saturday 6 April. Children with health challenges from...

CapeTalk’s Pippa Hudson is one of the celebrities taking part in this year’s Great Optimist Race in Cape Town. Dozens of celebrities and medical survivors will be taking to the high seas later this month...

Youngsters took part in a sailing therapy day held at Zeekoevlei Yacht Club. Sailing experts were on hand to show them the ropes. Children who participated hailed from various homes and community and non-profit organisations,...

Children from a variety of Cape Town charity groups experienced the joy of sailing for the first time at the Zeekoe Vlei Yacht Club this weekend. Reach for a Dream, St Joseph’s Home and the...