Comrades Marathon 2025 | Page 61

COMRADES NEWS

As the official volunteer organisation of South African National Parks( SANParks), the SANParks Honorary Rangers are passionately committed to conserving our natural heritage for generations to come. They give freely of their time and skills to foster conservation in South Africa’ s national parks. Being part of the Comrades Marathon’ s AmaBeadiBeadi charity drive enables runners and supporters to contribute directly to these conservation efforts through the Race4Charity platform.

A large portion of the net proceeds raised during 2024 was allocated to much-needed support for SANParks’ K9 anti-poaching units and SANParks rangers, through the‘ Embrace’ programme. Poaching remains a major conservation challenge in South Africa, and both rangers and well-trained dogs are vital for the success of anti-poaching efforts.

The funds allocated to the K9 project may be used for the purchase of well-trained dogs or the provision of optimal kennelling, care and veterinary needs. The‘ Embrace’ programme supports rangers by providing training and counselling to boost wellbeing and resilience in the face of poaching, crime and other challenges associated with their work.

Funds raised during the 2025 AmaBeadiBeadi charity drive will further bolster these and other conservation efforts.

The first five years of a child’ s life are essential in developing mental, physical, social and emotional skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. The aim of the Community Chest Durban and Pietermaritzburg is to raise much-needed funds for this early childhood development( ECD), and is calling all Comrades superheroes to make an impact in the lives of 7845 under-resourced children, all under the age of five, living in impoverished areas throughout KwaZulu-Natal, by running the race in support of the Community Chest.

The Community Chest Durban and Pietermaritzburg supports the running community at every opportunity. We partner with athletic clubs by hosting refreshment stations at 12 running events

annually. We are also proud to serve runners each year at the GEMS Comrades Disadvantaged Runners programme, where our dedicated team prepares meals and assists runners who are accommodated on the eve of the race and the night after they have run almost 90km!

Run your Comrades Marathon with your heart, and give your Comrades journey extra life-giving purpose, by joining our quest and running for Community Chest Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

Situated along the iconic Comrades Marathon route in KwaZulu-Natal’ s Valley of a Thousand Hills, the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust( HACT) is a sanctuary of hope for those facing the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS, poverty, and life-threatening illness. For 35 years, HACT has delivered compassionate, holistic care through three key pillars: Health, empowerment and education.

At the heart of our health work is Othandweni – which means place of love – our 24-bed inpatient unit offering free, high-quality palliative and hospice care. This facility provides dignity and comfort to children and adults in the final stages of AIDS or cancer, and these are stories of extraordinary courage … of mothers holding on for their children, of young people confronting the unimaginable, and of lives closing with peace, surrounded by unconditional love.

Our empowerment programmes equip people with skills and income-generating opportunities, strengthening their independence and building selfreliance, and through education, we work with schools and families to raise resilient youth who promote healthy living and lead their communities with hope.

Together, they form a compassionate safety net, to restore dignity and change lives in KZN’ s vulnerable communities.

Rise Against Hunger is a global organisation dedicated to coordinating the distribution of food and life-saving aid to communities. A cornerstone of their work is early childhood development support, embodied in their ECD Connect programme. This initiative focuses on the critical growth period of children aged one to six, prioritising their health and development by providing meals that build a vital foundation for the children’ s future wellbeing.

Rise Against Hunger also focuses on nourishing lives through meal packaging events, efficient food distribution networks, and crucial nutrition education. The meals themselves are meticulously crafted to effectively address malnutrition, comprising nutritious ingredients like soya, rice, vegetables and essential vitamins. Furthermore, the organisation is dedicated to responding to emergencies, by mobilising rapid response efforts during

times of crisis to distribute essential food supplies and offer vital support to affected populations.

Beyond immediate relief, Rise Against Hunger is committed to empowering communities by implementing sustainable solutions, such as agricultural training and livelihood programmes designed to overcome food insecurity, and raising crucial awareness about the pervasive issue of food insecurity.

Your impact starts with a meal, ending hunger in our lifetime.

If you would like to make donation to one of our six official Comrades Amabeadibeadi Charities, go to https:// comrades. com / charities / amabeadibeadi

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