Member of the uMhlanga Women Achievers and Rotary Club of uMhlanga, Glenda Lee Finegan, recently completed her 18th Midmar Mile to raise funds for the SPCA and to honour her late son. The prestigious open-water event took place at the Midmar Dam.
Heading into the competition, Glenda had a target goal of R4,000 to raise, but she ultimately secured a staggering R4,600 in donations for the SPCA. Finegan said: “I love supporting the SPCA because they do such great work in being a voice for the voiceless, and I love all animals.”
It took intense preparation to finish the mile-long swim, which included training two to three mornings a week at the Durban North public pool and participating in the Durban Undersea Club (DUC) sea swims. Glenda was first motivated to attempt the Midmar Mile back in 2006 by her late son.
Finegan said: “He came home from school near the end of Grade four and told me he was going to do the Midmar Mile. When I asked where he was going to train, and with whom, he answered ‘at the gym, with you’ so I had to do it with him. I kept on doing it even when he was not around.”
uMhlanga Women Achievers President, Natalie Burne, described Glenda as an understated powerhouse. Burne said: “At UWA, we believe in networking with purpose and making a meaningful difference in our community. Glenda’s involvement reflects exactly that—stepping up, taking action and supporting a worthy local cause, not for recognition, but to make a real difference.”
Burne added that she hoped this fundraiser, and others like it, would continue to create awareness for the incredible work performed by SPCA Springfield. Glenda advised that people who have a wish to contribute meaningfully to the community should simply take the plunge. Finegan said: “The charities need support, and if we can help in some way, we must. Because if everyone sits back waiting for someone else to do it, nothing will ever get done.”
