Foundation award gives Dreyer reassurance that his Change a Life Academy is making a difference

Writer: Tom Collings - Martin Dreyer was acknowledged for the outstanding work he has done in changing the lives of many impoverished children through paddlesports by winning the Foundation award at the World Paddle Awards at Sant Pere de Ribes, Spain on Saturday.

Formerly known as the Paddlesport Professional Award, Dreyer received the golden paddle from inaugural winner Katayoon Ashraf.

Dreyer was delighted to win the award as it provides him with the reassurance that the work he is doing is making a difference.

“It is a great honour to receive this award especially on a global stage, it gives me reassurance that what I'm doing is good, it reignites my drive to continue and it's good to know we are going in the right direction. 'Change a Life' is a non-for-profit organisation; this exposure can only be beneficial to my academy to create opportunities for those who are less privileged than us,” Dreyer said.

A seven-time Dusi Kayak Marathon champion and leading South African endurance adventure athlete, Dreyer founded the 'Martin Dreyer Change a Life Academy' in 2008 to help change the lives of young previously disadvantaged black people deprived of the opportunities to get ahead in life.

Dreyer was inspired to start the ‘Change a Life Academy’ after historically winning the Dusi Kayak Marathon in 2008 with the first ever black paddler, Thulani Mbanjwa.

Dreyer identified in that race and in the months leading in that many of his competitors in the Dusi Valley region were more talented but lacked the support to take their paddling to the next level which is where his vision to create a program, instilling valuable life skills and training youngsters was founded.

Thulani and Martin’s victory paved the way to develop a new generation of paddlers in the region.

Martin and Jeannie Dreyer.

“As the first ever black winner of the Duzi Marathon it set the platform for me to be able to give back to a race that I had benefitted so much from,” Dreyer said.

From its initial stages right through to today the academy has been an overriding success. Not only for providing a pathway for talent but in also enabling participants to learn vital life skills and provide food for their families.

In 2015, 10 boats featured inside the top 26 at the Duzi Marathon, while two of Martin’s athletes, Thabani Msiya and Msawenkosi Mtolo won medals at the South African National Canoe Sprint Championships.

“The talent is there and the future is bright,” Dreyer said.

“The program is never easy and there are a lot of life skills that come out of it like hard work, discipline, focus and so they are better for it to be on the program; and the community embraces this program because it does create the perfect role models for the other youngsters to look up to as these kids become providers for their families.”

Dreyer was honoured to share the evening with so many special people.

“To be on this global stage with other legends of the sport, not just the winners of the golden paddle, but also, the academy members they are truly legends and I am really humbled for that and appreciate it.”

For all the other winners click here.