The NEWS roots for Whiteline Fever

The race, on November 2, will feature a field of 16 horses with their finishing positions determining how much each of the 16 charities win.

The charities are supported by various media partners and the runners are publicly represented by a celebrity. To determine which horse will represent which charity, a draw was held at Emperors on Wednesday where the celebrities and media partners were determined.

The event will result in a total of R550 000 being shared between the 16 charities with R100 00 for first. No charity goes home empty-handed and those represented by the last five horses home, each get R20 000.

Jongimfundo Primary Aftercare Centre is represented by the NEWS and by celebrity, Dan Nicholl.

This aftercare centre in Vosloorus caters for 86 children, providing them with hot meals, school uniforms and help with homework as well as food parcels when necessary. Jongimfundo and Thembakazi Primary School are being merged.

Thembakazi Primary School, also a beneficiary, has 96 children and the Peermont Children’s Trust provides children with hot meals, food parcels, uniforms and help with homework.

MC, presenter and award-winning columnist, Dan Nicholl, formerly a well-known radio and TV personality was at the 2012 Charity Mile and has travelled extensively this year to host events in Scotland, Philadelphia and Rio de Janeiro. He also supports the JAG Foundation and Laurus Sport for Good Foundation.

The Ormond Ferraris-trained filly and Sean Tarry’s charge, Whiteline Fever, has the highest merit rating of those entered – 118. That will result in her having to give weight to virtually all the other runners.

Charities

Other charities benefiting from this year’s Charity Mile are Welamlambo Primary Aftercare Centre, catering for 68 children, some orphans, from three schools in the old section of Tembisa; Maphanzela Primary Aftercare Centre which caters for pupils from primary schools by providing hot meals, uniforms and help with homework; Reahile Primary Aftercare Centre in Katlehong which caters for 78 children from various primary schools and pupils are fed according to a menu provided by the Department of Health and Social Development.

Umkhathize Primary Aftercare Centre in Thokoza has 98 pupils and will be rooting for Here Comes Billy at this year’s race.

Fortune Kunene Primary Aftercare Centre, in a poor part of Vosloorus, has 68 pupils, many orphaned and provides an oasis for the children with wholesome meals, school uniforms and help with homework.

Nageng Primary Aftercare Centre, represented by Tellina, is also situated in a poor part of Vosloorus and caters for 96 children, many of them orphaned, who all receive hot meals, school uniforms and help with homework.

San Michele is a home for the physically and intellectually disabled and provides professional care and a family environment for 200 permanent residents, aged 18 to 74.

The Randvaal-based Highveld Horse Care Unit, a section 21 company, has grown into the largest equine welfare organisation in the sourthern hemisphere since its inception in 1991. It rescues and rehabilitates horses and has helped thousands of ill-treated equines.

With 100 pupils, Khangezile Primary Aftercare Centre is based in Tsakane and caters for children from the low-income settlement of Kwa-Thema, where there are no decent ablution facilities. Children receive hot meals, food parcels, school uniforms and help with homework.

The Animal Anti-Cruelty League is the second-largest independent animal welfare organisation in South Africa, providing shelgter for abandoned animals, promoting an efficient adoption programme, presecuting animal cruelty cases and running welfare hospitals for pets in low-income areas.

Jabulani Khakibos Kids is a Joburg-based children’s home which provides shelter for 35 street children.

The Lesedi Programme offers learnerships for a variety of hospitality courses and the trustees provide life-skills training for students.

Star Schools host Saturday and school holiday classes for grade 10 to 12 mathematics and science pupils.

The Peermont School Support Programme is a five-year, R40-million commitment to create centres of excellence based on a model of continuous learning to deliver quality matric results.

The Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile will be run over 1 600m at Turffontein.