IN PHOTOS: Widespread support for SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge in Lowveld

In Mbombela itself, there was a group that started off its run from Crossing SUPERSPAR and another from Orchards SPAR.

A release sent out by the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge made mention of many groups across the country, and Mpumalanga rose to the challenge.

“Lentsa Faith Motau, captain of the Mpumalanga Sunbirds netball team, welcomed the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge at sunrise doing her own solo challenge on a granite hill overlooking Mbombela.

“She then joined her teammates in the Lowveld Botanical Garden where the Sunbirds did their challenge ending off with the Jerusalema dance.

“Other groups were seen roaming the plains of Kaapsehoop among the wild horses, walking in the rainforests at the base of Lone Creek Falls and along the escarpment at Blyde River Canyon.”

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In the spirit of the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), Gilda Mavromatis, vice-chairperson of the LowMed Running Club, mentioned some of the club’s efforts in raising funds and awareness towards GBV.

“From the July 18 to August 19 a few of us started a virtual End GBV campaign and race to raise funds for GRIP. We were blessed to be sponsored by SPAR Lowveld (Nikki Hodgson) with a R10 000 donation to GRIP.”

For Saturday’s race the club also met with the Mataffin Men’s Forum which wanted to partner with it to raise awareness and educate about GBV in their community.

“The SPAR Virtual Women’s Challenge is an obvious extension of our work and allows us to merge social awareness with the sport we love,” said Mavromatis.

“Chris Christie of Crossing SUPERSPAR was generous in providing our participants with free beverages from Bean Tree Cafe and a safe deposit for vehicle keys.

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“In total we had around 20 club members and their families from LowMed Running Club, 25 from the Mataffin Men’s Forum and local celeb supporters, such as Mike ‘Grootman’ Shabane – one of our best-known local radio sports presenters,” Mavromatis concluded.

“It’s astounding year after year to see how these amazing individuals join SPAR to use their reach and influence for good and to see how the people of South Africa are always there to support our causes,” said Sean Komlosy, divisional marketing director of SPAR Lowveld.

“Although we could not host our usual SPAR races this year, the excitement and meaning behind them were not cancelled in the end. We are proud of what we achieved together on September 26,” said Komlosy.