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SOUTH AFRICANS COME TOGETHER IN A VIRTUAL MARATHON – RAISING A WHOPPING R124 000 FOR THE HILLCREST AIDS CENTRE TRUST (HACT) COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND
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ast week families from all over the country were challenged to get off the couch and be part of making history by entering South Africa’s first ever virtual marathon, the Futurelife Bambelela Marathon Challenge. Inspired by South Africa’s lockdown and everyone’s efforts to flatten the COVID-19
We are thrilled to announce that we had just under 1 000 entries from runners and walkers from not only around the country, but the world too curve, the marathon challenge’s goal was to involve the entire family in a fitness event that promoted both mental and physical health in these unprecedented times, whilst simultaneously raising much-needed funds for the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT) COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. According to Futurelife’s marketing director,
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TOP: Sue-Anne Swindon from New South Wales in Australia also participated in the challenge. ABOVE: Sihle Ntuli, a full-time cook for the 24-bed respite unit at Hillcrest AIDS Centre, joined hundreds of South Africans in the virtual marathon.
Bhavna Maharaj, our nation did not disappoint. “We are thrilled to announce that we had just under 1 000 entries from runners and walkers from not only around the country, but the world too,” she says proudly. “Children as young as nine years old, and folk from as far as Dubai and Australia, took part in the challenge on Monday April 13, completing either 5km, 10km, 21,5km or 42km. In the end their combined efforts helped us raise over R124 000.” Bhavna adds that Bambelela is a Zulu phrase meaning “stay strong”. “As South Africans we are incredibly strong and resilient by nature, so it was no surprise that the message behind the
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