THE COMRADES MARATHON RACE4CHARITY GATHERING PACE
More than R800-thousand has been raised for charity by generous Comrades Marathon runners since the opening of the #Comrades2024 entry process with an estimated R5-million in total fundraising expected in the build-up to Comrades race day on Sunday, 9 June 2024.
Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) Charities Convenor, Pat Freeman says, “Through the Amabeadibeadi Charity Drive, the CMA is ensuring that we give back to our needy communities and contribute towards fundraising for the CMA’s six official charities.”
The officially recognised Amabeadibeadi charities are the Durban & Pietermaritzburg Community Chests, Childhood Cancer Foundation (CHOC), Childline KwaZulu-Natal, Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust, Rise Against Hunger and Sanparks Honorary Rangers.
Since 1996, more than R71-million has been fundraised for charity by Comrades Marathon runners via the Amabeadibeadi Charity Drive. Part of this charity drive is the Race4Charity campaign which is intended to foster wider support for charitable fundraising.
Race4Charity offers runners an opportunity to turn their running efforts into something great for charity, and the CMA is hoping to build on the foundation it has laid over the past decade.
An exciting facet to this campaign is that runners have the opportunity to improve their seeding batch, while raising funds for a good cause. The first 500 athletes to raise R6,000 each under their Race4Charity profile will automatically get to start in the C batch near the front of the field on race day.
However, any #Comrades2024 runner is welcome to sign up on the Race4Charity platform and fundraise any amount in order to add to the CMA’s charitable footprint. All Race4Charity runners will also be on the receiving end of an exclusive goodie bag which they can collect during registration from their chosen charity.
Signing up to Race4Charity is easy. Runners need to enter the 2024 Comrades Marathon by the closing date of entries or during the Substitution period but will have until race day, 9 June 2024 to sign up and raise funds. Please note that normal race rules still apply for entries and there are no refunds, should a runner fail to qualify or raise the minimum amount.
Freeman adds, “Over the years, our runners, supporters, sponsors as well as the public at large have very generously supported the CMA’s charitable initiatives. We therefore call on you to showcase the goodwill and ubuntu that characterises Comrades runners and contribute to our fundraising initiatives, all proceeds of which go directly to our charities.”
Freeman concludes, “The role that the CMA’s Official Charities play in community-based support, poverty alleviation, early childhood development, as well as critical humanitarian, environmental and health advocacy greatly enhance the lives of thousands of South Africans.”
For details on how Race4Charity works and other information, PLEASE CLICK HERE
