THE Crusaders Running Club will host its first Beer Mile run for charity on Saturday, 29 October. The event will raise funds for the Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa (CHOC). Gordon Reid, of Crusaders said this was a first for the club.
“Every year, we choose to do a different fundraiser for the charity and this year we decided on the Beer Mile concept. Basically it’s a staged race, where runners down a beer and then complete a 400 metre course around the club four times.
“Last year, we raised R4 500 for CHOC and we are hoping to beat that amount this year. It’s a fun event and we are encouraging people to dress-up and get involved. The dress theme of the event is fun, funky and fancy dress. This will also serve as a fundraiser for the club and a portion of the entry fees will be donated to CHOC.”
Reid, who is also part of the CHOC Cows, who are unmistakable in their Friesian bovine patterned suits, is also involved with a number of fundraising initiatives for the organisation. Each year the herd of splotchy cows cycle in various races like the Tour Durban, Tsogo Sun Amashova Cycle Race and the 94.7 Cycle Challenge to raise funds for the organisation. He has also completed several Midmar Miles and Midlands Ultra Triathlons to raise funds for the ‘moo’vement.
“I thought it was such an amazing idea to make a difference to children battling this disease. Cycling in the cow kit takes the competitive element out of the races and allows me to have fun and focus my passion on creating cancer awareness. I lost my mum to cancer and cycling in these suits has a number of parallels with the disease. Now, as a club we’ve decided this would be an awesome way to give back to CHOC,” he said.
