RISE TO THE CHALLENGE: GET ACTIVE AND RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY

A very popular UK fundraising event, The Sport Relief Mile, is coming to South Africa. The inaugural event will be held in Cape Town on the 21 March 2010 at the V& A Waterfront, the same day that the event takes place in the UK. As one of the UK’s biggest fundraising events, the Sport Relief weekend brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change lives. The whole thing kicks off on Friday 19 March with all sorts of fundraising fun at home, at work and at school. Then on Sunday 21 March, everyone, celebrities included, is invited to do 1, 3 or 5 Miles and get sponsored for their efforts to help people living unimaginably tough lives.

Comic Relief UK’s Director of Global Strategy, Amanda Horton-Mastin, said: “Sport Relief has a great history of thousands of people doing both small and extraordinary things to make the world of difference to those in critical need. We’re delighted that for the first time ever, South Africans will be rising to the challenge alongside their British counterparts and raising money for children in the Western Cape”.

The beneficiary of the inaugural event in Cape Town is Child Welfare SA and all the money raised by the public will go directly to this charity.

Participants will be able to choose between a 1 Mile (1.6 km), 3 Mile (4.8 km) or 5 Mile (8km) fun walk or run. Starting from and finishing at The Lookout at the V&A Waterfront, the route will take in the magnificent beachfront Promenade and will give walkers/runners an upfront look at the glorious new Cape Town soccer stadium. The Sport Relief Mile promises to be a great, fun-filled day for friends, families, schools and clubs with a festival atmosphere of entertainment and music for runners, walkers and those supporting.

Most importantly, Capetonians will be able to celebrate Human Rights Day by giving back and supporting children in need in the Western Cape. Child Welfare is a national structure providing services to over 2 million children, families and caregivers annually. Commenting on behalf of the organization, Professor Dasarath Chetty, the President of Child Welfare South Africa, said: “We would like to thank Sport Relief for choosing Child Welfare as the recipient of this inaugural event. We encourage Capetonians to raise sponsorship and get active, knowing that every step they take will be going to a very good cause.” Funds raised will go towards the CWSA 24-hour child protection programme in the Western Cape as well as assisting families dealing with the problems of drug addiction.

Entry forms are available at various sport stores, CT Tourism offices and all Cape-based Sportsmans Warehouse stores where one can enter and receive a race pack. The entry fees are R25 before 01 February and R35 from 02 Feb-14 March. Late entries will then be done at The Waterfront from 19-21 March at a cost of R40.

Issued on behalf of Sport Relief by KL PR & Events.

For more info. please go to www.sportrelief.co.za or contact Annie Barker on +27 21 671-2589