Gym time just got a whole lot better for Riverlea residents
Riverlea gym receives equipment worth more than R150 000 from sponsors
The Riverlea gym received an early yet very generous donation for Mandela month from Givaudan.
Givaudan is a company which is classified under the flavour and fragrance industry. They make flavours which are then added to foods, snacks and drinks.
The company was originally established in Tunisia but branched out into South Africa.
“We felt that we needed to play our part in terms of giving back to the community and making a difference in people’s lives and we saw an opportunity when we looked at our gym facility back at our company.
“The facility was under utilised and we had a lot of equipment that we felt could be donated to communities,” said operations director and company manager for Givaudan South Africa, Mercy Tshivhase.
Seven months ago, the company lost one of their operators in a tragic shooting where an was killed in the community.
According to Tshivhase, the company is still in mourning and thought that it would be a kind gesture to donate the gym equipment to Riverlea as their hard working employee hailed from the area.
Tshivhase also added that they hoped the equipment would assist in terms of taking the children off the streets and improving the quality of life in Riverlea.
The gym equipment is said to be worth more than R150 000 and it ranged from mats, a treadmill, gyming attire, weights, basically everything that is required for a gym facility.
“From the City of Johannesburg, the recreation centre and the groups that benefited from this donation, we are extremely grateful to Givaudan and we know that this will increase the membership,” said Edwina Fillies, the recreation centre manager.
The gym is also undergoing upgrades and Fillies expressed that they were happy that the private sector is partnering with them to reach the city’s goal of healthy lifestyles in the communities.
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