There has been an excellent response to the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge on September 26, with more than 12 000 tickets sold within days of its launch.
The SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge is SPAR’s response to the cancellation of all the SPAR Women’s Challenge series around the country because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead of travelling to the six cities around the country making up the series, women are being invited to walk, run or jog a distance of their choice between 5 and 10km, over a route of their choice, between sunrise and sunset on September 26 and then share their experiences on social media.
The organisers are hoping to set a world record for the most participants in a women-only virtual challenge and appear to be well on track to achieve that. “I am really excited about the great response there has been,” said SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge ambassador and former SPAR Grand Prix winner Kesa Molotsane.
“I think it’s such a wonderful project in these very strange days we are living in,” she said. “I know we won’t actually be racing, but it’s a wonderful motivator. I am coming back from injuries to both knees and my left ankle, and the thought of the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge spurs me on to get back to full fitness.
“I am excited to be doing something a lot of people are doing and I am really looking forward to all the social media on the day,” said Molotsane. “I know times have been tough but I want people to be positive and this is a way we can all be positive and spread a bit of sunshine.” Rene Kalmer is another SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge ambassador who is enthusiastic about the event. “It’s going to be a different kind of challenge and there is a different kind of excitement about it.
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“We all have our personal goals and will be trying to achieve them on the day,” said the three-time SPAR Grand Prix winner. “I am quite far gone in my second pregnancy, so I won’t be trying to set any records on the day. The advantage of being able to choose your route is that you can choose one that suits you and I will probably seek out a flattish route. Maybe even one that is downhill all the way,” she said.
“I hope that everyone who takes part wears their special T-shirt on the day, so that we can recognise one another and exchange good wishes. It’s going to be really beautiful,” Kalmer said, adding that the R50 entry fee was a real bargain. “For R50, you are getting a T-shirt and a buff and the race magazine, and then SPAR is donating food parcels to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) as well. I think that’s fantastic.
“We can’t talk enough or do enough about GBV. We have become even more aware of it during lockdown and we need to do everything possible to help the victims,” said Kalmer.
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Entries for the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge are only online at www.sparvirtualchallenge.co.za When you enter, you will nominate the SPAR store most convenient to you and you will be able to collect your limited edition SPAR Virtual Challenge pack from that store from two weeks before the event.
