Three Comrades runners honoured
The GEMS Spirit of Comrades awards honoured three individuals for their selflessness, dedication, perseverance and ubuntu, combined with their love for The Ultimate Human Race.
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) celebrated the goodwill and noble qualities associated with the spirit of the Comrades Marathon when it hosted its annual awards gala in Durban on October 27.
The GEMS Spirit of Comrades awards honoured three individuals for their selflessness, dedication, perseverance and ubuntu, combined with their love for The Ultimate Human Race.
The CMA has hosted the prestigious awards since 1996.
The three GEMS Spirit of Comrades recipients received a one-ounce (28.3g), 24-carat gold medallion. More than that, the award is a notable recognition of someone who embodies the Comrades spirit, inspires others to be selfless and showcases the inherent values of goodness in humanity.
Over 50 individual nominations were received this year, most submitted by Comrades Marathon runners and the public. The CMA welcomes nominations from the public, its members and other stakeholders.
The CMA’s Heritage & Traditions Committee adjudicated the nominations. It made recommendations that were then approved by the CMA board.
The awards criteria emphasize Comrades Marathon winners, legends, volunteers and otherwise ordinary heroes and heroines who, through individual acts of service, sacrifice, courage or perseverance, either in a single race or over some time, exhibit the qualities associated with The Ultimate Human Race.
Spirit of the Comrades award recipients:
Nato Amaral (Comrades Marathon ambassador for Brazil).
Satish Gujaran (first Indian to earn a Comrades green number).
Dean Wight.
CMA awards:
• Journalist of the year: Khotso Sello from Newsroom Africa.
• Top charity fundraiser of the year: Dean Wight.
• Chairperson’s award: Brian Swart.
• Long service recognition: Jeff Minnaar.
CMA sponsor green name awards:
• Coca-Cola for 40 years of beverage sponsorship.
• Imperial Truck Rental for 35 years of truck hire sponsorship.
• Toyota for a 20-year-long motor vehicle sponsorship.
• Netcare 911 for 20 years of medical sponsorship.
• Hirsch’s for 12 years of appliances sponsorship.
• Southern Sun for 12 years of hotel accommodation sponsorship.
CMA chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo congratulated all of the recipients.
“We thank GEMS and all other sponsors and partners for their contribution to the success of the Comrades Marathon and for supporting this platform where we get to recognize the accomplishments of our Comrades heroes, heroines, legends and everyday people who go beyond the call of duty to do extraordinary things and fly the Comrades Marathon flag daily.”
He said the awardees had showcased the true spirit of The Ultimate Human Race.
“May we long remember these noble founding values that this race is based on as we celebrate our awardees and sponsors tonight.”
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