Supermarket group launches virtual challenge

Spar is aiming to put some sunshine back in the life of South African citizens during these challenging times with the Spar Women’s Virtual Challenge.

The year 2020 has been a challenging one, as the world struggles to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. In South Africa, large gatherings have been banned until further notice, resulting in the cancellation of the annual Spar Women’s Challenge Series that make up the Spar Women’s Grand Prix.

However, despite the cancellation of the ever so popular series, women who would normally be taking part in the Spar challenges are asked to #BeSunshine by taking part in a Spar Women’s Virtual Challenge on Saturday September 26.

Women from Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State, North West and Northern Cape will be able to enter for the Spar Women’s Virtual Challenge. The entries of woman from the coastal provinces are limited.

Women of all ages can run or walk any distance between 5 km and 10 km between 06:00 amd 18:00 and then post about their experiences on any platform, using the hashtags #BeSunshine or #SPARVirtualChallenge.

“The year 2020 was meant to be a year of celebration, as we marked 30 years of our involvement in women’s road running,” said Spar group marketing executive Mike Prentice.

“We know that thousands of women look forward to taking part in the Spar Women’s Challenge races and their associated fun runs each year, and thus we have decided to run a virtual challenge to give women something to look forward to and a motive to exercise,” said Prentice.

“We also want to try to set a Guinness World Record for the biggest women’s virtual challenge. Our target is 30 000 entries.

“We will also be giving hope and assisting survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) at the same time. GBV is a scourge in South African society and appears to have worsened during the national lockdown. We at Spar want to do something to help the survivors and all the money received from entry fees will be used to help them,” he said.

Race ambassador Philicity Reeken applauded Spar in their strong stance against gender-based violence.

“I am so happy to see Spar turn a spotlight on the scourge of GBV in this country and use their platform to support women.”

The entry fee to the Spar Women’s Virtual Challenge is R50 and for every entry, Spar will donate a food parcel to a GBV survivor.

Each entrant will also receive a limited addition race T-shirt, a lightweight buff and a race magazine.

There will be 30 ambassadors invited to promote the message and goodwill of the challenge. One of these is René Kalmer, who has been running in the Spar Women’s Challenge 10 km races for more than half her life and is also the first to win three Spar Grand Prix titles.

“I am pregnant and will be well into my pregnancy by September 26, so I will be shuffling rather than running, but you can bet my family and I will be taking part and spreading some sunshine,” said Kalmer.

Captain of the Protea netball team, Bongi Msomi, is another ambassador.

“I have taken part in the series for the vibe and the party feeling, so I am excited to be an ambassador for the virtual challenge,” she said.

“GBV is a serious problem in South Africa and it is time we send messages to everyone, not just men, that it is not acceptable. I am happy to help survivors of GBV.”

On how to enter and obtain more information on the 2020 SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge go to www.sparvirtualchallenge.co.za(.)