How Two Women in England Are Helping a South African Teen Reach the World Stage

A South African-born mother and her daughter are walking hundreds of kilometres barefoot across England to help 15-year-old Sebastian represent South Africa on the world stage.

United Kingdom (02 June 2026) – A chance meeting in South Africa years ago has led to a remarkable act of generosity.

This week, Charmaine Bruijns and her daughter Megan are tackling a demanding barefoot fundraising challenge to help young South African karate star Sebastian Sonnekus get to the WUKF World Karate Championships in Romania.

For 15-year-old Western Cape karate athlete Sebastian, support has arrived in a remarkable form this week. While he continues training in Wellington and Paarl ahead of a potential trip to the World Karate Championships in Romania, two women in England are putting their feet on the line to help him get there.

South African-born Charmaine Bruijns and her daughter Megan, who now live in Dorset in the United Kingdom, have embarked on a challenging 40-mile barefoot trek along England’s rugged South West Coast Path. Carrying their own equipment and camping along the route, the pair are raising funds to help Sebastian represent South Africa on the world stage.

By the time they complete their latest challenge, they will have covered a cumulative 160 miles barefoot through a series of fundraising walks.

To think that it all began as a chance meeting is what makes it even more remarkable. While holidaying in the country, Charmaine and Megan met a young boy and his family. What started as a brief encounter grew into years of support, helping a single mother and her children with everything.

Now, Sebastian has built an impressive karate career through the years.

His commitment has paid off. He is currently ranked number one in South Africa in his age and rank division under the World Union of Karate-Do Federations (WUKF) system and has once again earned selection to represent the country at the WUKF World Karate Championships in Romania in July.

Like many athletes competing in smaller sporting codes, however, the journey comes with significant costs. Travel, accommodation, competition fees and training expenses are largely carried by families themselves.

After following Sebastian’s progress on social media and watching his determination over the years, Charmaine decided she wanted to help make another international appearance possible.

Their fundraising goal is to raise £3,000 to help cover the costs of getting Sebastian to Romania. Their story is a reminder that kindness can cross oceans, that friendships can form in the most unexpected ways.

Those wishing to support Sebastian’s journey to Romania, or find out more about the fundraising campaign, can follow the link here.

Sources: Supplied 

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