Our Ambassadors
We have five Ambassadors who have gained world wide recognition for their achievements. They support our vision and are committed to raising the profile of Hope Through Action amongst their networks and contacts. They provide guidance, advice and regular support.
Ryk Neethling –
Olympic gold medallist and the first South African to have competed in 4 consecutive Olympic Games
Reuben Riffel –
Well known leading South African chef with three restaurants, several books and a number of television programmes. Reuben was a MasterChef judge and was born in Groendal, Franschhoek.
Marais Erasmus –
South African former first class cricketer who is now an international cricket umpire and a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires.
Gary Kirsten -
Legendary South African cricketer. Opening batsman for South Africa and coach for India and South Africa. Has scored a century against every Test playing nation.
Ernst van Rhyn -
Professional South African Rugby player. Captained the Junior Springboks, played more than 50 games for the DHL Stormers from Cape Town and currently plays for Sale Sharks in the English Premiership. Ernst hails from Paarl, where he went to school and then graduated from Stellenbosch University.
Melissa Crosbie
Melissa is married to Simon, the owner of Rickety Bridge. Together, they have relocated to South Africa to fully dedicate themselves to revitalizing the estate and enhancing its wine offerings. Melissa has taken a sabbatical from her career with the Metropolitan Police Force in the UK to support the family’s vision and contribute to their shared dream.
Passionate about making a meaningful difference, Melissa is deeply committed to engaging with the local community and championing initiatives that bring direct and lasting impact to those most in need. In a short time, she has formed a close relationship with Hope Through Action, a programme she believes is instrumental in creating opportunities and improving lives. Its mission strongly aligns with the family’s core values and mirrors the charitable efforts they support globally.
Melissa remains dedicated to supporting the programme and is actively involved in raising awareness and driving support for the foundation whenever possible