Charl Minnaar, a former crewmember and the founder of The Yachting Investor, is taking on a 50-mile ultramarathon on April 18 — dubbed the “50 Miles for Infinite Smiles Challenge” — to raise funds for long-term education sponsorships in Ghana. Rather than spreading donations thinly across students for a single year, Minnaar’s fundraiser is designed to create a lasting, measurable impact by guaranteeing funding for three years of junior school for sponsored children. “I’ve always been very interested in fundraising initiatives and getting involved in charitable campaigns, but I did notice as a contributor that I am more inclined to make a donation if there is an attainable goal attached to it,” Minnaar said. “That’s why I’ve decided to take on the 50 Miles for Infinite Smiles challenge.” The guarantee covers: – Daily meals – School exams – Uniforms – Books and learning materials – A buffer for inflation and running costs “The more I spoke to the board of charity, the more I realized they struggle to make it month over month,” Minnaar said. “To create a system that guarantees three full years of education for each child means that every $1,160 that has been raised, we know a single child is taken care of for three years.” All funds raised will be donated directly to H.O.M.E. GHANA NPO and allocated exclusively to education sponsorships at Nii Kwatei Academy, with Minnaar also committing to donate 20% of all course revenue through The Yachting Investor to the foundation. “[We as crew frequently] spend over $1,000 per month, week, or sometimes weekend on frivolous luxury things, and if you decide to sponsor a child in this initiative you know that you have taken an active step in making sure that their lives are turned for the next three years and are going to be guaranteed a lot better than where they started,” Minnaar said. “Maybe it is a good idea to skip this weekend’s bottomless mimosas and brunch and new Louis Vuitton bag, because you can actually change a child’s life.” While this will be the longest race Minnaar has ever attempted, he believes the strength of the cause will carry him to the finish line. “When the cramps start getting crazy and the pain starts setting in, I will definitely be flicking through the pictures that they sent me of the charity and remember that this race is about something bigger than myself,” Minnaar said. “Big bonus points, my wonderful wife will be there to support me, so at every 10-mile point at least I’ll be able to get a hug and told everything’s going to be ok.” Donate to the cause here!