Dean steps it up for Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust

WELL-KNOWN Upper Highway runner, Dean Wight succeeded in raising more than R400 000 for his chosen charity, the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT) through this year’s Comrades Marathon Race for Charity campaign and he is now the iconic race’s top charity fund-raiser for the third year in a row as his tally raised for the local charity is just more than R1 million.

Despite this year’s 95th running of the Comrades Marathon being cancelled due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, Dean still raised the record amount thanks to the goodwill of his close friends, family and local online running network, Beloved Long Runs (BLR) KZN.

Speaking of his accomplishment, Dean said, “I was in two minds as to what I should set my fund-raising target as this year but, in the end, the 2020 race’s slogan of #DareToDream spurred me on and I’m so glad I did because HACT really needs these funds now more than ever.”

HACT’s CEO, Candace Davidson explained how Dean’s perseverance paid off after months of hard work and creative fund-raising. This included selling BLR merchandise and encouraging his friends and family to sponsor a 78km run around his garden during the initial 21-day lockdown period.

ALSO READ: Camaraderie shines through during virtual marathon

“If there’s one thing we’ve come to know about Dean, it’s that he doesn’t do things in half measures. Be it running 1566 laps around his 50m garden for HACT during lockdown, running 90km in the Race the Comrades Legends virtual race or raising much needed funds for HACT, he always goes the distance,” said Davidson.

The bulk of the funds raised through this year’s Comrades campaign for HACT will go towards the charity’s Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund which.

“It is helping to mitigate the far reaching impact of Covid-19 on those considered the most vulnerable and at risk within our local communities, including those with compromised immune systems due to HIV/AIDS or TB as well as the elderly. Within the context of the coronavirus, and ongoing regulations and safety concerns, HACT has had to creatively find new ways of offering supportive services to our many beneficiaries,” said Davidson.

To support the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust, visit its website www.hillaids.org.za or make an EFT.

Banking details:
Account name: Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust
Account number: 1147961433
Bank: Nedbank
Branch: Hillcrest
Branch code: 133826
Reference: Name and surname/company name

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting

Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).

Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.

Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.