Many running events support a charity ( or more than one ) and invite entrants to add a charity donation to their entry fee when entering the race . This is a wonderful way for runners and organisers to give back , and the charities are always thankful for the much-needed support . However , in many cases , all the runners see is a cheque being handed over at the postrace prize-giving , or a press release after the event , and they don ’ t know what their donations actually pay for . This was not the case with the recent Totalsports Women ’ s Race events , which took place in Durban , Cape Town and Johannesburg on three consecutive weekends in August . Each of the three events drew record-breaking numbers , with a combined total of around 30,000 runners ( 7500 in Durban , 12,500 in Cape Town , and 10,000 in Joburg ) participating during Women ’ s Month . In addition to this remarkable turnout , the event proudly raised an impressive R158,584 for PinkDrive , its official charity partner . This was made up of R83,584 in donations from participants and a further R75,000 made by the event .
Early Detection is Key
PinkDrive is a non-profit company ( NPC ) with the core purpose of preventing as many people as possible from falling victim to breast , cervical , prostate and testicular cancer . As such , its mission is to encourage early detection of gender-related cancers across South Africa , with the message that early detection will help to prolong life . A key part of this is providing free screening services , and as such , the PinkDrive team offered free clinical breast examinations at each of the three races , providing participants the chance to consult with a nurse for general medical advice . In total , 722 breast exams were conducted at the event , leading to 22 vital referrals .
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Sunday 4 August Totalsports Women ’ s Race Durban
Breast Exams : 300 Referrals : 10 Entrant Donations : R17,413 Event Donation : R25,000
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“ The turnout at our tent on race day was fantastic ,” says Janice Benecke , Marketing & Events Coordinator at PinkDrive Durban . “ We absolutely love the support that this race brings , and Totalsports does an amazing job of rallying people to support both the event and our cause . We conducted 300 breast examinations and made 10 referrals – for women who might not have discovered a lump without visiting our stand . We ’ re truly pleased , because now they can seek the necessary care , and we ’ ll continue to monitor them .”
Friday 9 August Totalsports Women ’ s Race Cape Town
Breast Exams : 178 Referrals : 4 Entrant Donations : R37,994 Event Donation : R25,000
“ For me , the unity and compassion displayed by women at this event was a true highlight ,” says Tenielle Karen , Marketing & Events Coordinator at PinkDrive Western Cape . “ In addition to the generous donation that we received from the event and its participants , our pop-up shop was also a great success , with most items selling out . These funds will go a long way in helping us mobilise our teams to provide much-needed cancer screening services .”
Saturday 17 August Totalsports Women ’ s Race Johannesburg
Breast Exams : 244 Referrals : 8 Entrant Donations : R28,177 Event Donation : R25,000
“ These events allow us to raise awareness and educate a large , engaged audience about breast cancer ,” says Nelius du Preez , Operations Manager at PinkDrive Johannesburg .
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“ The highlight for us was the 244 women who took advantage of the free breast examinations on the day , as well as the many others who were educated about the importance of early detection . We were also absolutely blown away by the incredible support we received at the Shop4Cancer pop-up shops on event day , as this year marked the strongest backing we ’ ve seen in eight years at the event , and we couldn ’ t be more grateful !”
Funds Put To Good Use
“ PinkDrive plays a fantastic and invaluable role as the charity partner of the Totalsports Women ’ s Race ,” says Michael Meyer , Managing Director of Stillwater Sports , the organisers of the event . “ It ’ s truly a pleasure to support an organisation that means so much to the community , and makes such a significant difference in people ’ s lives . We are proud to have handed over R158,584 to PinkDrive , knowing that these funds will be put to great use .”
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On behalf of PinkDrive , Du Preez adds , “ Thanks to the fundraising opportunities provided by the Totalsports Women ’ s Race , we can continue our work across South Africa , as the funds help to keep our mobile mammography units on the road . Our heartfelt thanks go to the Totalsports Women ’ s Race , its sponsors , the dedicated organising team , and every single runner across all three cities for making this possible .”
For more information , please visit https :// pinkdrive . org or www . totalsportswomensrace . co . za
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Images : Tobias Ginsberg |