Hi, its Melanie here- Di's sister, and I am trying to assist Di and Morne with fundraising platform for international family and friends outside of South Africa.

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As parents, there are few moments more powerful than seeing your child chase a dream with everything they have. For the past few years, we’ve watched our son, Ethan du Toit, pour his heart and soul into the sport of rowing. Early mornings, gruelling training sessions, and a determination far beyond his years — all in the hope of one day representing South Africa.

From the moment Ethan attended the Rondebosch Boys High School rowing open day in 2020, he fell in love with the sport. He dedicated himself to becoming the best rower he could be from the very first day. Through the years he consistently ranked among the top rowers in his age group and became an integral part of the club’s student leadership team. His peers selected him as captain in the U15 and U16 age groups, and in his senior year, he was Club Captain.

Early on, Ethan dreamed of becoming a national rower - a goal we supported, but didn’t fully expect him to achieve. He faced numerous challenges, injuries, bad luck and had to make many personal sacrifices. To make his mark on a national level Ethan worked hard to be selected for and represent the Western Cape for the last 3 consecutive years. When school rowing season ended Ethan and his WC team kept training and competing for months on.

Through all this Ethan learned a valuable lesson: when an opportunity arises, seize it and make the most of it. He did exactly that this year when the national coach invited him personally to join a two-week training camp on the other side of the country. Far from home and surrounded by strangers, Ethan had to prove his worth and work with three other boys, none of whom had rowed together before, to qualify their boat. It was a defining moment in his journey and an absolute high when they qualified.

That dream is now becoming a reality. Ethan has been selected to row for South Africa at the Junior World Rowing Championships in Lithuania this August 2025.

What makes this even more special is that Di’s side of the family originally came from the Lithuania & Latvia region. They immigrated to South Africa around 1900. It is pretty special that one of the descendants can go back to that region and compete in this amazing championship.

If you want to be part of Ethan’s amazing journey please make a donation. No matter how small, every cent is appreciated and will help us give Ethan an experience of a lifetime.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for considering supporting our boy. This journey is more than just one race — it’s the beginning of a future he’s dreamed of for so long.

With warm regards and heartfelt gratitude,

Morné & Di du Toit

Parents of Ethan du Toit