Messages
Geordin
Hill-Lewis
Cape Town Mayor
A warm welcome to all the entrants in this year ’ s Cape Town leg of the Spar Women ’ s Challenge series . This is a particularly special race as we celebrate 30 years of Spar Women ’ s Races in Cape Town . Over the past three decades , this has become a landmark event in the Mother City and we could not be prouder to be involved .
Sean Komlosy
Marketing Director , SPAR Western Cape & Namibia
SPAR Women ’ s Challenge – we have run a long way with you !
It ’ s a real honour to welcome you all to the SPAR Women ’ s Challenge , once again a live event . These past years have taken their toll , so it ’ s wonderful to be able to run or walk , however you take on the challenge , in person .
At SPAR women are very important to us .
Sport is about community . We are very involved with the sponsorship of women ’ s sport , locally and internationally . In South Africa SPAR sponsors the national Netball team , the SPAR Proteas , who we will be supporting and watching keenly at the World Cup right here in Cape Town this year . SPAR Namibia is the new headline sponsor of Namibia ’ s junior national inline hockey teams , the girls ’ team being one of these .
From the original Cape Town race won by the legendary Elana Meyer all the way back in 1993 , this has become a must-attend event in the road running calendar . And with the introduction of the Grand Prix Series format back in 2007 – with other legs being run in Gqeberha , Durban , Mbombela , Tshwane , Joburg and Pietermaritzburg – the Spar Women ’ s Challenge is undoubtedly the premier women ’ s road race event in South Africa , as can be seen by the quality field of runners it always attracts .
Its growth in stature is also reflected in the prize money on offer in the series . This year runners will compete for a total Grand Prix Series purse of R1.9 million .
But this race is not only about top athletes . Between the 10km and 5km races , it offers women of all abilities , ages and fitness levels an opportunity to be part of a truly special event . It is always one of the most welcoming , inclusive and fun road races anywhere in the world , and there is a good reason why entrants return year after year to be part of it .
We missed all of you for a couple of years during Covid , and it is wonderful to have the race back to full strength and its original format . To the athletes competing for top spots in the series , may you find the strength to push yourself to new limits . And to the thousands who will be running for fun , I wish you a wonderful , memorable and safe race .
I hope to see you all back here next year .
The SPAR women ’ s road races are very special in that they are not only for our , top elite female athletes , they are aimed at all women , the backbone of our society .
At SPAR we want to make our voices heard , not only in the sporting arena , but also where women and children are vulnerable .
This year our race has two beneficiaries . Through the SPAR Petals project , we donate sanitary pads to schoolgirls in need . Operation Smile South Africa gives our less privileged children born with cleft palates the opportunity to smile again and take their rightful place in society .
Gender-based violence is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world . It knows no social , economic , or national boundaries . In September 2019 the SPAR Group launched its end GBV initiative , in which it pledged to take practical steps towards ending the pandemic of GBV . We work closely with Lifeline . In South Africa , SPAR has a collaboration with the NPA to assist with their Thutuzela Care Centres . These centres work on assisting GBV victims of all sexes , races , and age groups . Wesfleur in Atlantis , and Victoria Hospital in Wynberg being recent beneficiaries in the Western Cape .
Ultimately this race is about you , the participants . Whether in Cape Town , South Africa or Windhoek , Namibia have fun , as you take time out to enjoy the day with friends – old and new ! # ItsPersonal
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