Horses, celebrities and charity

This year’s Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile will be the biggest yet, with the 16 chosen charities receiving a share of R 1 million, a dramatic increase from last year’s total of R 550 000.

This Grade 2 race being run on the 31 October at Turffontein Racecourse also boasts prize money of R1 million. The Barrier Draw, which will be held at Emperors Palace on October 21, will decide which of the 16 thoroughbreds will represent which of the 16 charities. 16 celebrities will also each be matched with a charity for the day.

The winning charity will receive R150 000, second place will receive R100 000 with all 14 other charities getting proportionate amounts of the total donation, depending on the allocated horse’s placement.

Here is the list of some of the 16 charities chosen so far for the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile 2015:

Lesedi Programme (Peermont Education Trust)

The Peermont Education Trust offers deserving previously disadvantaged youth from Ekurhuleni an opportunity to study further through a  a learnership programme at accredited institutions to enable them to become economically active. The Trust also provides mentorship which includes life skills and emotional intelligence.  Over 550 young people have been sponsored on this programme to date with 100% of electrical learners securing employment and 90% of hospitality learners securing employment.

“Izimbewu Ze Themba” – Grade R Project (Peermont Community Benefit Trust)

Early Childhood Development and Grade R, in particular, prepare children for school while improving their capacity to develop life-long learning. The objective of this project is to create a stimulating teaching and learning environment that will enable a greater number of learners to perform better throughout their schooling years, and ultimately increase the number of learners eligible to select Maths and Science in Grade 10.

By providing specialist training for Grade R practitioners in the classroom, the trustees are providing a specialized training model that enables the practitioners to learn the practical application without leaving the class. To date four schools have been identified (Reahile Primary School in Katlehong; R.P.Mapanzela Primary School in  Thokoza and Fortune Kunene Primary School and Nageng Primary School in Vosloorus) which covers 330 children in 10 classes with 10 practitioners

Peermont Children’s Trust (PCT)

The Peermont Children’s Trust assists ten schools in the Gauteng area by assisting with the provision of school uniforms ever year, daily hot meals for all learners, food parcels for the school holidays, building of jungle gyms, and an annual Christmas party. The majority of these schools are in very underprivileged areas with many children being orphaned and malnourished. The Trust also assists with aftercare programmes and assistance with homework which helps the learners to improve on their academic results and school attendance. In fact, the Peermont Children’s Trust after school programmes supports nine centres that cater for 22 primary schools in Gauteng. The Trust works very closely with the Department of Social Development and Department of Education.

These 10 schools include: 

• Welamlambo Primary, Tembisa
• Maphanzela Primary, Thokoza
• Reahile Primary, Katlehong
• Umkhathize Primary, Thokoza
• Fortune Kunene, Vosloorus
• Jongimfundo Primary, Vosloorus
• Nageng Primary, Vosloorus
• Khangezile, Kwa-Thema
• Thembakazi, Vosloorus
• Star Schools, Springs and Vosloorus

The interventions at the Star School centres in Springs and Vosloorus are particularly remarkable, with a dedicated focus being on Mathematics and Sciences, more specifically to achieve better and higher pass rates for Mathematics and Science between grade 10 and 12, enabling, amongst other things, entry into post school intervention programmes. Since its inception, 2 400 learners have benefited from this project.

Last year saw the National Horse Trust receive a cheque for R100 000 when Bezanova, ridden by Weichong Marwing, raced to victory at the prestigious 2014 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile. Mrs South Africa 2014, Sarah Kate Scott was the winning celebrity.

There are various hospitality options available, including a fully inclusive package in the Aquanaut or Furious Room and Deck with a prime view of the race track for R 850.00 per person, as well as packages including a buffet lunch and cash bar for R 475.00 per person. For hospitality bookings contact (011) 681-1702.

To make attending this exciting and significant race day all the more appealing, the rugby final will be broadcast on screens in all the main hospitality areas from 5pm.

Come and support world class racing, charity and rugby! See you at the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile on 31 October 2015.