Sprint sensation Van Niekerk donates R500‚000 to neonatal unit

21 May 2016 - 16:20 By TMG Digital
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South Africa's gold medallist Wayde van Niekerk waves on the podium during the victory ceremony for the men's 400 metres athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 27, 2015.
South Africa's gold medallist Wayde van Niekerk waves on the podium during the victory ceremony for the men's 400 metres athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 27, 2015.
Image: AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE

World 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk has donated R500‚000 towards the upgrade of the Groote Schuur Hospital’s neonatal unit.

The sprint sensation was himself apparently a premature baby and spent several weeks in an incubator at the Cape Town hospital.

The money was donated to the Newborns Groote Schuur Trust.

Athetics Africa@athleticsafrica tweeted: “ICYMI: World 400m champion @WaydeDreamer donated R500K to the Groote Schuur Hospital’s neonatal unit in #SouthAfricahttps://t.co/ikTjc8uKKq GrooteSchuurHS and Athletics_SA “

In another tweet it said: “The #SouthAfrican 400m prodigy‚ delivered prematurely‚ spent weeks in an incubator at Groote Schuur Hospital’s neonatal unit as an infant.”

Van Niekerk in March this year became the first runner in the world to break 10 seconds for 100-metres‚ 20 seconds for 200m and 44 seconds for 400m.

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