Virtually support your favourite charity

As the official charity fund-raising partner of the Two Oceans Marathon, GivenGain will once again support the iconic race. In addition, GivenGain will also launch an all-new event, the TOM 2021 Virtual Charity Challenge (VCC).

The annual Two Oceans Marathon, a much-anticipated event on the running calendar and known globally as the “world’s most beautiful marathon”, attracts over 30 000 runners from more than 90 countries annually.

Sadly, it was cancelled for the second year this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, with devastating effects on the many charities that have benefitted from various fund-raising opportunities.

However, organisers say the 2021 virtual challenge will both bring back an iconic event and allow participating non-profits to claw back much of their losses from last year.

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To continue offering a memorable race experience to runners and charities alike, the TOM 2021 Virtual Charity Challenge will take place between March 30 and April 30, entirely charity focused and inviting all runners across the globe to unite in running for good.

“We reaffirm our commitment to supporting organisations doing great work across South Africa. The inaugural TOM Virtual Charity Challenge is designed to give runners a great experience while they raise funds for organisations whose charitable work in vulnerable communities has been hard hit by the pandemic. We look forward to continuing this initiative well into the future,” said Debra Barnes, TOM’s race director.

The TOM Virtual Charity Challenge gives runners a window period from March 30 to April 30 to complete their race in any of the following distances: 5.6km, 10km and 20km.

“All runners participating in the event must register to raise funds for a charity of their choice and GivenGain hereby invites charities and runners to visit the official event page on the TOM website to get started with their fund-raising,” said Jannie Smith, GivenGain’s regional manager for South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

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Now in their fifth year of partnering with the Two Oceans Marathon, GivenGain’s platform has helped raise over R2.3-million during TOM races since 2017, supporting 575 fund-raising participants and donors from 80 countries all contributing to participating charities.

Smith said the average fund-raiser on GivenGain gets 20 donations of R375 each, raising R7 500 each time they do a fund-raising project.

“There are plenty of great examples on GivenGain of South African fund-raisers, corporates, events and charities that have aced fund-raising with a fun challenge, good use of social media or a fantastic story that inspires people to give or participate.”

One such fund-raising runner is Keshantha Naidoo, who raised R9 500 in benefit of Reach for a Dream, in honour of her late father’s legacy of having served his community through decades of volunteer work.

For more information on when entries will open for the Two Oceans Marathon Virtual Charity Challenge and how to enter, keep an eye out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit the website.