With just under two weeks to go before runners from around the globe gather to beat their personal bests at the world’s most beautiful marathon, the real race is on to raise much-needed funds for local causes.
Open call for participants to #RunforCharity
After a prolonged knock from Covid-19, mass participation events are again going strong, and organisers and participants are determined to surpass 2019 charity fundraising numbers. Since its inaugural edition in 1970, the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon (TTOM) has sold out annually, and this year the race’s charity fundraising target is an impactful: R1 million. As an official fundraising partner since 2018, South Africa’s premier online fundraising platform GivenGain is again empowering runners to #RunforCharity and meet this mark.
The power of mass participation events
So far, participating runners have raised just under R700 000 for the Two Oceans Marathon. More than half of those funds are directly from around 170 half-marathon and ultra-marathon personal projects hosted on GivenGain. And with just under 28 000 runners taking part in the iconic race this April, there is still enormous fundraising potential.
This year, participants from eight different countries are fundraising in TTOM events on GivenGain, including the UK, US, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia. Donations have come in from 15 countries, bringing valuable foreign currency to South Africa. Anyone who wants to support a fundraiser on GivenGain’s global platform can donate in their own currency using world-class international payment methods, with the funds being paid directly to the charity chosen.
Charities are the real winners
With or without a charity entry, this year’s TTOM runners are making a difference by supporting causes they care about. This year’s top causes that are receiving much-needed support from fundraising projects are animals, cancer and children. Sporty supporters of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, South Africa’s oldest animal welfare organisation, have raised over R98K and counting. CANSA, a leader in the fight against cancer in SA, will benefit from more than R36K in donations. Similarly, Mosiac SA — an organisation that supports the orphan-care sector — has over R29K from GivenGain fundraisers.
Fundraisers in the lead
Sandeep Singh will be running the 2023 Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon and raising funds for a cause close to home — the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.
“I’ve been blessed with two doggos, Honey and Buddy, who were picked up on the streets, fostered and rehabilitated by some amazing people before they found their forever home with me. Honey and Buddy’s lives were changed with the help of organisations like the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, and I hope that this fundraiser can help change the lives of many more animals.”
Friedrich Meisenholl is a half-marathon fundraiser with a very specific target: R21 000. “The goal is R1 per every 1 meter of the race!” Friedrich is calling on his network of friends, family and fellow runners to donate to his project which supports Mosiac SA’s educational and talent development programs.
Start fundraising today
GivenGain has made it fast, safe and simple for anyone to set up a fundraising project and to enable donations from around the globe for causes they care about.
“We’re confident that TTOM fundraisers will reach the R1 million mark and we encourage all runners to set up a project to make a difference for their favourite charity. Anyone participating in this year’s race can fundraise — with or without a charity entry,” says Jannie Smith, Regional Manager for Sub-Sahara Africa at GivenGain.
“We are really heartened by the many Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon 2023 runners who are helping the event make an impact long after it is over, by embracing the spirit of the Two Oceans Marathon Initiative (TOMI), the philanthropic arm of the Two Oceans Marathon organisation. These runners have an amazing sense of wanting well-being for not only themselves, but as many others as possible, and we salute them,” says Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon Race Manager, Hilton Kearns.
