COMRADES MEMORABILIA ON SALE AT EXPO( OR ONLINE)
BONITAS UPLIFTS THE INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGED
A stunning selection of Comrades branded memorabilia will be on sale at the Comrades Marathon memorabilia stand at the three-day Comrades Expo from Thursday 1 to Saturday 3 June. The amazing collection of items will include a variety of headgear, accessories, gadgets and a host of utility items, so spoil yourself, or find the perfect gift for the Comrades runner in your life.
If you are not able to attend the Expo, or would like to purchase any of these items after the race week, you will also find them available through the online Comrades Shop, in a convenient one-stop shop accessible any time from anywhere in the world. Furthermore, the items will be delivered directly to you at your convenience. To get shopping, simply visit www. comrades. com and clicking on the Online Shop tab.
SUPPORT THE CMA’ S CHARITIES
The Comrades Marathon makes a positive difference to the lives of the less fortunate and the environment by supporting six official Comrades Charities. Runners can elect to run in support of one of these charities, and runners and supporters are invited to further support them by buying Amabeadibeadi products at the Comrades Expo. More info at www. comrades. com / charities / amabeadibeadi.
BUY AN ICE ID BRACELET, BENEFIT CHARITIES
Comrades Marathon runners and supporters can contribute to charitable fundraising by purchasing a personalised Comrades ICE( In Case of Emergency) ID Bracelet, as 25 % of the retail price will be donated to the Comrades Marathon’ s Charity Drive, benefiting the nation-building activities of the six official race charities.
The ICE ID Bracelet is a comfortable, lightweight and durable medical accessory with the runner’ s wellbeing in mind. The silicone strap is flexible and waterproof, and can be cut to size to achieve the ultimate fit, while the curved stainless steel tag wraps comfortably around the wrist. Meanwhile, the double catch clasp ensures that the bracelet is secure. Most importantly, the tag allows for six lines of laser engraving for all the runner’ s ICE information.
For order and delivery details or further information, please e-mail info @ iceid. co. za.
COMRADES MARATHON ONLINE
www. twitter. com /@ ComradesRace www. facebook. com / ComradesMarathon www. comrades. com
This year official Comrades sponsor Bonitas is going the extra mile in making the 2017 Comrades Marathon ultra-special. Bonitas has partnered with the Community Chest to make warm-up tops for all Comrades Runners as well as drawstring bags for the Bonitas Comrades seminars attendants.
The Community Chest awarded the job to one of its beneficiaries, the Pietermaritzburg Mental Health Society( PMB MHS), which allocated a group of more than 20 intellectually challenged adults from the Buxton Workshop to hand-make the 20,000 tops and 1300 bags. The team at the Community Chest facilitated the entire process and is extremely grateful to Bonitas for giving these workers this hands-on opportunity.
This contract not only brings in an extra income stream for the MHS, but also pocket-money for the intellectually challenged workers who got the job done. Through the support of Bonitas, the funds will also help their Work Skills Programme, which aims to:
• Stimulate the transformation in the workshops from grassroots, in accordance with the updated policies as determined in the document of the SA Federation for Mental Health.
• Change people’ s perceptions about persons with mental disabilities and what they are able to learn and achieve.
• Make workshops and their staff accountable for a systematic approach to developing trainees’ abilities and independence.
• Create a resource pool of trained persons who can be ready for employment opportunities in the open labour market.
Since the initiation of the programme, 30 people have been placed in the open labour market and some are now in permanent employment. One group goes to an outside clothing distribution centre to price tag garments, under the supervision of a workshop instructor.
The workshops also have a sport and recreation programme to allow for all-round development of the workers’ abilities. The PMB & District Community Chest and the PMB MHS wishes to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to Bonitas and the Comrades Marathon Association for giving these special individuals an opportunity to broaden their skills.
GET THE NEW BALANCE COMRADES SHOE
New Balance South Africa has combined award-winning Fresh Foam cushioning with the best in premium performance running in the Comrades Fresh Foam 1080.
The New Balance design team has delivered a supremely cushioned shoe that respects and maintains the runners’ need to engage with the ride itself, and can handle any amount of mileage. The one-piece Fresh Foam midsole gives runners a wonderfully smooth ride that is enhanced by carefully placed flexibility grooves, and the shoe features a bootie-construction specifically designed to accommodate various instep heights and foot volumes, plus an engineered upper mesh that adds to the luxurious fit.
The Comrades Fresh Foam 1080 sells at a suggested retail price of R2599 in both men’ s and women’ s versions at Totalsports, Sportsmans Warehouse, New Balance Experience Stores and leading key independent sports retailers.
Images: Courtesy CMA
52 ISSUE 95 JUNE 2017 / www. modernathlete. co. za