It’s hard to motivate yourself to get out an run, but what about hitting the tar for a cause? Western Province Athletics (WPA), ASEM Running and the City of Cape Town have partnered to present the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, and you can do just that.
One of the aims for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is to raise funds for charities. The entire weekend of Friday, 16 September 2016, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will attract increased interest from amateur and elite athletes alike. Some are running for personal achievement, others for health and wellness, but most importantly, many are running to support charities. There are 26 charities in total that are on the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s profile and, this year, their goal is to raise over R1 million.
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon supports many charities, and here’s a little info on ten of them:
Endurocad
Endurocad is a distance running and endurance sports academy in the Western Cape. The academy offers a national programme that focuses on the development of exceptional athletes. Endurocad provides substantial services to support its students. With expert guidance, nutritional education, scientific coaching and group training; they aim to produce athletes that are the best in their categories.
Western Province Athletics
Western Province Athletics (WPA) is a kids athletics development programme that uses fun, explanatory and accessible techniques to introduce young children in the Western Cape to athletics. WPA aims to expand the athletics involvement, both as a sport and a recreational activity. The programme currently has over 300 kids involved and with the help of the Sanlam Marathon, they hope to increase their numbers.
Children’s Hospital Trust
The Children’s Hospital Trust is a foundation that advances child healthcare at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. Over the years, the Trust has provided the hospital with money to upgrade its buildings, equipments and the training of its staff.
SPCA
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) speaks for, protects and cares for animals. They stop animal cruelty, make sure animals are happy, healthy and well-cared for by their owners. Their services include inspections, adoptions, animal care centre, animal hospital and more.
Sanlam Foundation
The Sanlam Foundation, an organisation in society, understands that they have broader responsibilities outside of their premises. Their duties include organising programmes. They aim to improve the skills and knowledge of the people in the community.
The Sunflower Fund
The Sunflower Fund helps South Africans diagnosed with leukaemia and blood disorders. The fund also assists to grow the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR).
WWF
WWF stands for the World Wide Fund for Nature. The trust was established to stop the degeneration of Earth’s natural environment. Their objective is to create a future in which humans live in balance with nature. They want people to reduce pollution and wasteful consumption.
PinkDrive
The PinkDrive is a breast cancer community carer that provides mobile women’s health mammography and gynaecology units. PinkDrive believes ‘early detection saves lives’. This is the reason they travel to semi-urban and urban areas to enable all medically uninsured access to women’s health services.
Greenpop
Greenpop wants you to run for trees at the Sanlam Marathon. Their mission is to reconnect people with the planet. They plant trees, and also run urban greening and reforestation projects. Greenpop aims to spread environmental awareness. They activate the community through green festivals and workshops.
Masikhule
Masikhule is a non-profit organisation with the aim of helping poor and disadvantaged communities. It was established to address the need for applied, appropriate and accessible training of primary caregivers and teachers in early childhood development.
When you participate in the Sanlam Marathon, you’ll also be helping these and other beneficiaries too. Including Grassroot Soccer, NSRI, Rotary – Newlands, Guide Dog Association South Africa, Amy Biehl, Community Chest, Anna Foundation and the CANSA Foundation.
It doesn’t end there. The MSSA, Peace and Sport, Home from Home, Project Dignity, Drakenstein Hospice, Jag Foundation, Eduvate, Vital Foundation, MAD Leadership Foundation, Velokhaya, and Animal Anti-Cruelty League Cape Town will also benefit from the Sanlam Marathon.
When you’re at the Sanlam Marathon, spread the word. Invite others to join you in doing the right thing. Use the hashtags #ChallengeYourself, #CTMarathon2016, #ChallengeYourFriend, #ChallengeAccepted, and #RunGreen when you post anything from the marathon.
OF NOTE
Where 6 Koeberg Road, Maitland (Race office)
Contact +27 87 700 8264, [email protected]
Photography courtesy CANSA, Cape of Good Hope SPCA, Children’s Hospital Trust, Eduvate, Endurocad, Greenpop, Masikhule, PinkDrive, The Sunflower Fund, Sanlam, Western Province Athletics, WWF