Coca-Cola CEO accepts invite to GPI

Jackson joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1984 and is a former executive vice-president and director of Operations for Coca-Cola Africa and Coca-Cola's president of Greater China and Korea. He is a long time supporter of the GPI and jumped at the opportunity to play in the 2013 event.

"It is the best long weekend of the year. Highlights from previous GPIs include Ronan Keating and Lee Westwood on stage singing Life is a Rollercoaster," said Jackson.

The Player Foundation, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, has raised over R500m for charities through the GPI, an annual series played across four continents that features top professional golfers, celebrities and business leaders.

Transport of children

Jackson was delighted when The Player Foundation and GPI named Wings and Wishes as one of the beneficiaries for 2013. The charity was established by Sabco staff in 2006 to transport critically ill children to specialised government hospitals around South Africa to receive lifesaving medical treatment. "We will do 2,000 plane trips this year in order to transport needy children to hospitals for life saving surgery. The funds raised during the GPI will help us continue to grow that number in 2014," said Jackson.

The major fundraising event for 2013 will be the black-tie auction at The Palace of the Lost City on Friday, 15 November. Jackson mentioned the most sought after item is always the opportunity to bid for a week-long trip to The Masters as a personal guest of Gary Player and Black Knight International.

The GPI format features leading businessmen teamed with a professional golfers and a celebrity. The line-up for 2013 includes Gary Player, Retief Goosen, Tony Johnstone and Cheyenne Woods, alongside Westlife's Bryan McFadden, actor Anthony Anderson of Law & Order and CSI New York's Carmine Giovinazzo.