Run for mental health awareness in uMhlanga this weekend

LACE up your running shoes and get ready to hit the road at The Pearls Umhlanga Tourism’s first Umhlanga Walk/Run presented by FUTURELIFE which takes place this Sunday, July 21.

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The event is being hosted by Umhlanga Tourism and The Pearls, together with various other businesses, who have come on board to make it fun for the entire family by offering giveaways and discounts on the day.

Speaking about the run, tourism chairperson Jeannie Sarno said that another special element is that proceeds will go towards the Durban and Coastal Mental Health facility.

“With the stresses and pressure of everyday life, there are numerous people who battle with mental health issues on a daily basis. Some are more serious than others. As parents, grandparents and caregivers, we also see how stress also affects our children. The problem is that mental health issues are still considered taboo in some communities, and we want to break that stigma and raise awareness and funds for this serious problem,” she said.

Durban and Coastal Mental Health will also be present on the day to interact with participants and the community, and Durban deejay J Sbu will be dropping the beats and entertaining the crowd.

Shaun Peschl, who is an avid cyclist, will be managing the route, which, he says, would be a pity to miss out on, since Durban is really beautiful at this time of the year.

“Participants will start and finish at The Pearls outside Doppi Zero and then head towards Lagoon Drive and go past The Breakers and along the promenade. Those who are taking part in the 5km will head towards the hill near Daily Dose so they get a bit of a challenge. The 7.5km runners will run farther south before heading back to The Pearls,” he said.

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“As July is Mental Health Awareness Month, we couldn’t think of a better time to host this run. We are hoping to make it an annual event. Any form of exercise is great for improving one’s mental health and to get those endorphins going. So come along and be part of this walk/run,” he said.

To register, visit www.racepass.com/za/races/umhlanga-run, or late registerers can make their way to The Pearls this Saturday and enter manually between 09:00 and 14:00. Every entrant will receive a goodie bag filled with amazing products and discount vouchers. The 5km run costs R100 and the 7.5km is R160.

Five lucky readers can win five double entries to the event. Should you be chosen as a winner, you must be able to make your way to the late registration on Saturday to claim your tickets. To enter, fill in the form below.

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