Colourful fun at local run/walk
SPAR Daily Dispatch virtual event raises funds for the disabled
Abeautiful sunlit early morning in Komani made for perfect conditions for a group of funky local joggers/ walkers who took part in the SPAR Daily Dispatch Virtual Fun Run for Disability on Sunday.
About 35 colourfully-clad locals, mostly women, did their 11km race at the Berry Dam, where they had started at about 6am.
The race, with thousands in SPAR vouchers and advertising from Daily Dispatch for prizes, drew much interest from runners/walkers across Komani.
Entrants got to choose their route, distance, and time, and run with their families and friends.
The online entry fee was R60, and the first 1,500 paid entrants got a free T-shirt.
The Daily Dispatch will donate the proceeds from the virtual run to the Canaan* Care Centre in East London that supports children with severe disabilities.
Teams could win one of three SPAR vouchers worth R2,000 each when entering a group of 20 people or the R50,000 Daily Dispatch advertising package when they entered 50 people or more.
The local participants came from the Komani Hiking Club and Old Mutual and Nedbank athletics clubs, as well as friends and family.
Janette Samauls, representing the Old Mutual club, enthused: “We had a nice walk, taking photos, videos and enjoying dancing. We had fun and this run is for a purpose – for children with disability.
“It was fun, it was an awesome two hours and 15 minutes.
“The dress code was funky – we dressed up for this. We must send our photos and videos to the Daily Dispatch and who knows, maybe we will win the prize?”
Another Old Mutual club member, Marlene de Wet, said: “We are very fond of supporting our cancer people, our disabled people and that is why we came out in groups. Our coach Zee planned this.
“She said we must be funky, glitzy and glamorous and that’s what we did.”
Samauls said as a diabetic, it was important for her to exercise regularly.
She and her team were looking forward to a busy next couple of weeks with races, including a 21km in Gqeberha and a trail run in Hogsback coming up.
Nolubabalo Mtshakazi, of the Komani Hiking Club, said there were also discussions during the event on 16 Days of Activism and gender-based violence.
Meanwhile, members of the public are welcome to join the club for a mountain hiking excursion in Bozwana, Cacadu, on December 4. See Komani Hiking Group on Facebook.