South Africans, SPAR help female learners
“The event was a huge success, and we could not have done it without you or our generous sponsors,”
Nearly 60 000 South Africans took to the streets and trails for the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge on September 4.
This year marked the second year of the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge.
The SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge was started to pay homage to South African women’s resilience and strength amid the uncertainty and strife brought on by the pandemic.
Charleen Goschen, marketing director of SPAR South Rand, thanked all of the participants for entering the second virtual challenge and first national event.
“The event was a huge success, and we could not have done it without you or our generous sponsors,” said Goschen.
Goschen thanked everyone who used the hashtags #LiveLimitless and #SPARvirtualchallenge.
“We loved seeing all your photos and videos.”
By entering this year’s challenge, participants showed their solidarity and made a tangible difference in the lives of young girls.
For every entry, a pack of sanitary pads will be donated to help keep a girl in school through the SPAR Petals Project. The project advocates for a shame-free education for all young women.
The entries for this year’s event, in addition to individual donations, will enable SPAR to donate 110 000 sanitary packets towards the Petals Project.
“We virtually walked together in support of keeping girls at school, even though their menstrual cycles, and by doing this, we play a small part in bringing them closer to a decent education, breaking the cycle of abuse and dependency,” said Goschen.
SPAR Women’s Challenge’s brand ambassadors showed their support by coming out in numbers to join in the various activities around the event, join other participants or run the race at their own pace and time.
Protea netball captain Bongi Msomi joined fellow SPAR ambassadors Renee Kalmer and Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp, with 40 women from Hanna Charity, to show their support on the day.
Other SPAR ambassadors who participated included Lucille Slade, Lindie Strydom, Charné Bosman, Jo Dee, Ivan and Donnalee Botha, Hannah Grobler, Mimi Mahlasela and Warrior Ric.
Jacaranda FM presenter Martin Bester threw his weight behind the event and was seen on the streets of Irene, while Leilani Kuter led a walk with the Yellow for Survivors at the Big Red Barn to raise awareness for gender-based violence.
In Johannesburg, Quinne Brown and other celebrities walked with Special Olympics star Shirnel Swarts and her fellow athletes.
Poppy Mlambo, a previous SPAR Grand Prix winner, led a walk in Soweto, while Insimbi Legacy Projects and Sekhwiditsane Primary School teamed up for a rural walk in Limpopo.
In Pretoria, The Workspace, XtraSpace and the SA Guide-Dogs Association joined in the fun with Groot FM.
In Cape Town, Ivan and Donnalee Botha completed the challenge at the Rebound Fit studio, while Jo Dee and the Heart Squad ran on the promenade at Sea Point.
The virtual challenge also featured in Gqeberha, where Madibaz netball star Jeanie Steyn and her Nelson Mandela University friends showed their support with a run around the city.
KwaZulu-Natal was a hive of activity seeing South Africans participate across the midlands and along the coast.
In Mpumalanga, the Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Programme and Mataffin Men’s Forum started their journey from Crossings SPAR in Mbombela, while other groups were seen running in on the plains of Kaapschehoop.
Spanned across the nine provinces the day’s entertainment was not limited to roads or trails but continued in the virtual space.
SA’s celebrities kept everyone informed of all the action around the country via a live Facebook stream.
Among the presenters were radio DJs Robbie Kruse and Sarina Bosman, Afrika-Bredenkamp, while Willem Botha and Lucille Slade provided live entertainment.
