Charities score from Soweto Marathon

LoveLife also involved

Charities and NGOs are the biggest winners in today’s Old Mutual Soweto Marathon as a big number of runners are taking part in the race in support of various charitable organisations.

The Soweto Marathon, starting and finishing at the FNB Stadium in Nasrec, near Soweto, offers runners and cyclists the opportunity to raise funds and awareness through the many charity platforms that are part of the People’s Race’s activities.

The increasingly popular 10km, 21km and 42km races celebrate the 25th anniversary of the staging of the event in and around the heart of Africa’s biggest township.

Athletes are afforded the opportunity to donate directly to a cause, support a participating friend’s chosen cause, or start a fundraising campaign to support those who are less fortunate.

For the first time this year, Lovelife CEO Linda Nkomo will be running to raise funds for their Boy Child Programme, aimed at “curbing the cycle of violence in society”.

Fikile Ntanzi, the Lovelife media officer, said as the country grapples with gender-based violence their mission was to work with boys and the youth to help raise responsible young men that denounce violence perpetrated against women.

“We’ve got to a point where we are raising angry young men and as we work with boys, we need to deal with that kind of behaviour and nip it in the bud,” said Ntanzi.

“Young men must denounce violence aimed at women and girls. What better way to work with boys at a young age to navigate through the problems they face.”

Another NGO that will benefit for the third year running from the Soweto Marathon is the Kliptown Youth Programme (KYP), an organisation aimed at helping the youth lift themselves out of poverty through education.

KYP executive director Thulani Madondo said they were privileged and grateful to be part of the Soweto Marathon beneficiaries for the last two years.

“We’ve been one of the biggest beneficiaries over the past two years. Runners who have been running on behalf of KYP have opened the eyes of the public who didn’t know about our existence,” said an excited Madondo. “We have three runners from KYP taking part. In total 10 runners will be running to raise funds and awareness of the good work we do in the Kliptown community.”

Madondo said despite KYP not being the only charity benefitting from the race, they were happy with the exposure.

The KYP gumboot dancers will entertain runners in Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, near the old Mandela House.

Soweto Marathon runners, friends of runners, Soweto residents and spectators are encouraged to visit the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon Expo at FNB Stadium to make a donation or pledge to charity.