Over R6 million raised for charities at the Comrades Marathon
The CHOC Cows were looking udderly amoozing at their water point in Hillcrest.
Image: Supplied
Over R6 million has been raised under the Comrades Marathon Association's Amabeadibeadi Charity Drive. These are the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC), SANParks Honorary Rangers, Community Chest, Rise Against Hunger, Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT) and Childline KwaZulu-Natal.
CHOC Cows manager Jayde McCarthy said: 'We did super well with our cows being absolutely amoozing!!!!'
On Monday morning, McCarthy said they had raised R2,5m.
'Our highest fundraiser is Ida van de Wetering, who has raised R165k to date.'
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
The CHOC Cows at their water point in Hillcrest during the Comrades Marathon.
Image: Supplied
McCarthy expressed gratitude to Van de Wetering and said they were proud of her.
McCarthy mentioned that they had approximately 300 runners, but she had not yet checked their performance.
McCarthy said it is incredibly motivating to remember they were doing this for children battling cancer.
On Sunday, the CHOC Cows had a water point in Hillcrest, with an 'amoozing' vibe with fun, dancing, mooing and cow bells.
'It was amoozing! There was cow print everywhere, the supporters were phenomenal, handing out high fives, hugs, nutrition, hydration and mootivation! Our sponsor, Balwin, made that spot possible, and we are so grateful!' McCarthy exclaimed.
The SANParks Honorary Rangers team at their watering hole in Camperdown.
Image: SANParks Honorary Rangers/ Facebook
Ahead of the marathon, SANParks Honorary Rangers' Peter Zietsman said the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon was their second opportunity to be of assistance and participate and become beneficiaries.
SANParks Honorary Rangers had a watering hole in Camperdown with two huge blow-up elephants.
Zietsman said that due to fiscal limitations, SANParks has certain capital expenditure requirements that cannot be fulfilled within the current fiscal period.
'So what we do is we launch projects like this and we collect funds that we are able to fill those gaps of needs for SANParks, so they can reach their objectives in terms of community responsibilities and things like that,' Zietsman said.
'So it's financial, it's boots on the ground, it's activities providing assets for SANParks to function correctly.'
The Community Chest team at their refreshment station.
Image: Community Chest/ Facebook
Community Chest executive director Gordon McDonald said: 'That money will be spent on early childhood development (ECD) because there's a critical problem with children not getting enough early education, and they're not finishing school, and they're not going to university and entering into the cycle of poverty.
'Good early childhood development, nutritious food, and good school stimulation programs are absolutely vital if you want to give a child a chance in life, and every child in every community deserves that chance.'
McDonald said they work with children in vulnerable communities and currently support about 7,800 children every day around Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
'We have focused our Comrades money on ECD for about 18 years now, and it is making a difference, and it's nice to see.'
Community Chest had a refreshment station outside Kingsmead Toyota, 1.5km from the finish line.
thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
Over R6 million raised for charities at the Comrades Marathon
The CHOC Cows were looking udderly amoozing at their water point in Hillcrest. Image: Supplied Over R6 million has been raised under the Comrades Marathon Association's Amabeadibeadi Charity Drive. These are the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC), SANParks Honorary Rangers, Community Chest, Rise Against Hunger, Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT) and Childline KwaZulu-Natal. CHOC Cows manager Jayde McCarthy said: 'We did super well with our cows being absolutely amoozing!!!!' On Monday morning, McCarthy said they had raised R2,5m. 'Our highest fundraiser is Ida van de Wetering, who has raised R165k to date.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The CHOC Cows at their water point in Hillcrest during the Comrades Marathon. Image: Supplied McCarthy expressed gratitude to Van de Wetering and said they were proud of her. McCarthy mentioned that they had approximately 300 runners, but she had not yet checked their performance. McCarthy said it is incredibly motivating to remember they were doing this for children battling cancer. On Sunday, the CHOC Cows had a water point in Hillcrest, with an 'amoozing' vibe with fun, dancing, mooing and cow bells. 'It was amoozing! There was cow print everywhere, the supporters were phenomenal, handing out high fives, hugs, nutrition, hydration and mootivation! Our sponsor, Balwin, made that spot possible, and we are so grateful!' McCarthy exclaimed. The SANParks Honorary Rangers team at their watering hole in Camperdown. Image: SANParks Honorary Rangers/ Facebook Ahead of the marathon, SANParks Honorary Rangers' Peter Zietsman said the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon was their second opportunity to be of assistance and participate and become beneficiaries. SANParks Honorary Rangers had a watering hole in Camperdown with two huge blow-up elephants. Zietsman said that due to fiscal limitations, SANParks has certain capital expenditure requirements that cannot be fulfilled within the current fiscal period. 'So what we do is we launch projects like this and we collect funds that we are able to fill those gaps of needs for SANParks, so they can reach their objectives in terms of community responsibilities and things like that,' Zietsman said. 'So it's financial, it's boots on the ground, it's activities providing assets for SANParks to function correctly.' The Community Chest team at their refreshment station. Image: Community Chest/ Facebook Community Chest executive director Gordon McDonald said: 'That money will be spent on early childhood development (ECD) because there's a critical problem with children not getting enough early education, and they're not finishing school, and they're not going to university and entering into the cycle of poverty. 'Good early childhood development, nutritious food, and good school stimulation programs are absolutely vital if you want to give a child a chance in life, and every child in every community deserves that chance.' McDonald said they work with children in vulnerable communities and currently support about 7,800 children every day around Pietermaritzburg and Durban. 'We have focused our Comrades money on ECD for about 18 years now, and it is making a difference, and it's nice to see.' Community Chest had a refreshment station outside Kingsmead Toyota, 1.5km from the finish line.
IOL News
9 hours ago
- IOL News
Gerda Steyn's love for the Comrades shines through in her latest victory
Gerda Steyn has now won three consecutive Comrades after her latest victory this past Sunday. | Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Media Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Media Gerda Steyn is hoping to extend her Comrades Marathon love affair as long as her body allows it, fans of the darling of SA road running – and the Ultimate Human Race in particular – will be delighted to hear. Her love for the Comrades was evident once again as the 'Smiling Assassin' sprinkled her infectious fairy dust all along the route on her way to a third title in a row in Sunday's down run. It was definitely reciprocated at the finish line on the streets outside People's Park in Durban. The chants of "Gerda! Gerda! Gerda!" grew ever louder as the diminutive road running star drew closer to the finish. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The cheers that greeted her when she breasted the tape in the 98th edition of the race were arguably among the loudest on the day, with hundreds of delirious well-wishers banging on the advertising hoardings lining the finish in a celebratory cacophony. Gerda responded by waving at her adoring fans, the ever-present smile lighting up her face despite being in obvious pain. She had to dig deep at the end of the race, but pulled through in typical fashion, carried to victory by the raucous support. 'It was an amazing feeling so close to the finish line,' she told Independent Media, after the race. "You've run for many, many hours and trained for many, many months and then finally to get to the finishing straight knowing that you're going to break the tape, is a moment that's difficult to explain in words." Steyn made her observations as a special guest of detergent brand OMO's Stay Unbeatable campaign. 'This race stands out for me even more above the other Comrades that I've done. Every year it just feels like it gets bigger and more special and it creeps even deeper under my skin.' The 35-year-old Steyn crossed the finish line in 5:51:10, to bag her fourth title, following her maiden victory back in 2019. Russia's Alexandra Morozova, a former winner, finished in second (5:55:56). Fellow South African Tete Dijana won the men's race. With the job done for another year, SA's ultramarathon queen is looking forward to putting her feet up. 'When it comes to my diet, I have to be strict and particular when I'm training and before a race as well. So, I definitely look forward to treating myself a little bit after the race. 'If there's two items that stand out for me, what I'm looking forward to the most, perhaps a glass of red wine and a big ice cream,' she revealed. 'Normally the dust settles after about a week and after that I will definitely be enjoying a nice break both for the body and for the mind. I plan to spend it with friends and family and just relax and get strong for the next challenge.' Steyn revealed she is hoping to run another marathon at the end of the year, while being wary of overextending herself. Gerda Steyn added to her growing Comrades domination on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers 'It is always tempting because there's so many amazing races around the country and around the world. So, it's difficult to say no to many races – I love racing – but for me I've seen in the past it works really well if I plan my racing calendar with about three races a year,' she said. 'I'm hoping to run the Soweto Marathon because I've never done that before.' None of the races will ever take the place of the Ultimate Human Race in Gerda's heart, however. 'Comrades, to me, means so much more than a race. It's where I found my passion for running and my passion in life as well.
IOL News
9 hours ago
- IOL News
Dijana and Steyn take Comrades glory
Tete Dijana won his third Comrades Marathon title in the down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers Down run king Tete Dijana came out victorious with Piet Wiersma hot on his heels during the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Monday. On the women's front, Gerda Steyn made it her fourth Comrades Marathon win. Dijana said he felt like a real winner, and he was indeed, a 'down-run real champion'. 'I was so excited. Very, very excited and also emotional because I remember what happened last year… I was in the best shape, but the devil came, so I was happy that at least the devil didn't attack me this year,' Dijana said. 'I've been getting pressure from social media saying, 'don't let it go again', they used the word again. So I had to fix everything.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Dijana said he came prepared. His game plan in the morning was eyeing everyone, checking who was leading, but not underestimating his mates. On Wiersma closing in on him, Dijana said: 'In the last 10 kilometres, I saw he was closing in. Then I accelerated a little bit, and then the gap opened.' Wiersma, the 2024 champion, said he felt like he was in the best shape of his life and even better than last year. 'I was having a lot of discomfort over those last kilometres. Sometimes I was closing and sometimes Tete was gaining some distance,' Wiersma said. 'He's the absolute down run king, right now. I'm going to try next year to be the upper king again.' Third-place Nikolai Volkov said the race went according to his plan. 'The first part of the race was based only on my feelings,' Volkov said. 'At one point in time, I was outraced by a big group of 15 people. I decided that I didn't want to go with them. I was still trying to cooperate with my feelings. In the last 20km, I caught up to 12 guys from this group.' Gerda Steyn clinched her fourth Comrades Marathon title on Sunday. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers Steyn said she set out at not too blistering a pace, a little bit more of a conservative approach. "I really wanted to run the race correctly. It worked out well. It got comfortable for most of the way,' Steyn said. 'There was a little bit of a moment where I realised that Alexandra (Morozova) was closing the gap on me quite significantly in the really last stages of the race, which really made me stay on my toes and make sure that I am 100% focused and getting the most out of myself.' The champion said she had a time in mind, but not a strict one. She planned on getting in under 5 hours and 55 minutes. She added that it was an honour to give Hollywood Athletics Club a winner this year. Second place, Morozova said this is her best Comrades result and her best pace. 'Until the 30th kilometre, I kept the pace with Gerda… but after the 30th kilometre, it became clear that it was just a warm-up for Gerda… I decided to let Gerda run her race and to play my game,' Morozova said. 'I'm really glad I held my second place because at one point in time, I thought that the race for me was almost over. 'At one point in the race, I saw how Dominika (Stelmach) started to close the gap, and I was really afraid that she'll catch me.' Shelmisth Muriuki claimed third place on her first Comrades Marathon. 'I would like to say that it is through God's grace because I almost gave up at 50km… because my legs were paining, I had blisters… it is just God,' Muriuki said. 'The race was good. It was amazing.' Cape Times
