A lifesaving partnership: DisChem Foundation supports NSRI’s mission

The power of community, dedication, and generosity was on full display when the DisChem Foundation made a generous donation to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).

This initiative, sparked by KFM presenter Carl Wastie’s call to his listeners, led to a powerful collaboration between KFM, the DisChem Foundation, and the NSRI – one that will directly contribute to saving lives.

Jacqueline Kahlberg, a representative of the DisChem Foundation, had the unique opportunity to experience firsthand the unwavering commitment of the NSRI volunteers at the Bakoven Station.
“After spending a superb and informative day at the Bakoven Station, we experienced the sheer passion and commitment the volunteers have for the NSRI,” Jacqueline shared. “Their precision and communication as a team are so finely tuned, there is a definite sense of being in the most capable hands.”

One of the most impactful takeaways from the visit was the NSRI’s emphasis on water safety and drowning prevention. Jacqueline, deeply moved by the importance of Survival Swimming, believes strongly in its potential to transform communities.

“Saving lives and upskilling communities to lessen the risk of drowning aligns strongly with The DisChem Foundation and caring for the community,” she said. “The NSRI’s practice of prevention being better than cure is vastly important.”

The experience also reinforced how vital public support is for organisations like the NSRI.
“It is important to acknowledge that the NSRI is a dedicated group of highly skilled and trained volunteers that give diligently and willingly of their time to ensure the public’s safety to the best of their ability,” Jacqueline reflected.

Krista Lazzari, the NSRI fundraiser responsible for foundations, noted how the Bakoven crew tailored the experience for their visitors, immersing them in hands-on sea rescue training.
“They were given the opportunity to go to sea to experience the launching of a rescue boat, which in the Bakoven channel is something that coxswains spend many years perfecting. As a fair sea was running, this is an experience that they will remember for a while.”

According to Nicolhas Pestana, Primedia Direct Sales Account Executive, the collaboration between KFM and the DisChem Foundation was a natural fit, given the Foundation’s strong focus on education and sustainability.

Carl Wastie, passionate about supporting unsung heroes, added that they saw the opportunity to make a tangible difference.

“The DisChem Foundation and The Flash Drive on KFM 94.5 are always trying to Help in a Flash, so we proactively wanted to support the NSRI ahead of a big season,” Carl said. “We admire the hard work the heroes go through during the festive period, and we had to find a way to support them with resources to both train new rescue volunteers and to gear them up for their own preventative life-saving campaigns like the Survival Swimming programme in underserved communities.”

The donation will go towards vital training and resources, further strengthening the NSRI’s ability to prevent drownings and respond to emergencies.

As Carl aptly put it, this initiative was a “group effort to support a heroic organisation.” The generosity of the DisChem Foundation, in collaboration with KFM, will undoubtedly help the NSRI continue its life-saving mission – one rescue at a time.