Comrades runners can go the extra mile for HACT
When signing up for the Comrades Marathon race you can now choose the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust as one of your beneficiaries.
AS entries pour in for the 2018 ‘Asijiki – No Turning Back’ Comrades Marathon, the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT) is celebrating its new status as one of six official Comrades Marathon charities.
As the only official Comrades charity in the Upper Highway area, HACT is appealing to all runners, supporters and clubs in the Upper Highway area to don their takkies and choose the organisation as their 2018 Comrades charity of choice. The 93rd Comrades Marathon takes place on Sunday, 10 June next year.
HACT’s HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes are set to benefit greatly from the funds raised as runners and supporters’ world-wide sign up before the race entry cut-off date on 30 November 2017. Benefitting projects include HACT’s unique, life-saving 24-bed Respite Unit as well as HIV prevention and community empowerment programmes.
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“The money raised will help us enormously with our efforts to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and positively impact thousands of lives,” said Boni Xaba, HACT’s marketing officer.
“Runners can sign up to support HACT through the Comrades Race4Charity and Amabeadibeadi Charity Drive on the Comrades website. By signing up to support an official Comrades charity like HACT, 500 runners stand to improve their seeding batch and skip the Durban registration queue. We are of course very happy to offer runners and supporters help with fund-raising ideas, as well as the option to visit our projects to see how the money would be spent.”
In the past three years, runners Matt and Will Luff from the United Kingdom and South African mother of three, Wendy Smith-Ndlamlenze, raised more than R50 000 for HACT’s Respite Unit and Granny Support Group programme.
Candace Davidson, HACT’s CEO, said, “We are thrilled to be named as one of the official charities of the prestigious Comrades Marathon. We know how vital it is to promote the goals of health, fitness, fun and positive lifestyles among those who face the challenges of poverty, ill health and caring for sick or orphaned loved ones.
“We have nearly 30 years of experience working on the frontlines of the HIV/AIDS pandemic which impacts hundreds of families in communities on the Comrades route. Partnering with the Comrades Marathon Association for three years puts our efforts firmly on the international map.”
Contact Boni Xaba or Candace Davidson on 031 765 5866 on weekdays during 8am to 4pm or send an e-mail to marketing@hillaids.org.za or visit its website www.hillaids.org.za for ways to fund-raise for HACT
