An occasion the whole family can enjoy is the underlying theme of the SPAR Daily Dispatch Summer Fun Run, which takes place in East London on Sunday November 25.
The event includes 8km and 4km races and the sponsors believe it is the perfect opportunity to herald the start of the festive season, with a strong fun element built into the programme.
A big part of the two runs is that they are wheelchair friendly and Daily Dispatch general manager Ryan Megaw said this aspect was growing every year.
“Approximately 1 200 people enter the two events,” he said. “It is increasing annually and we are getting more and more interest from those who are in wheelchairs.
“We feel we have an offering which provides something for everyone in the family, making it one of the most inclusive events.
“The 4km run or walk has become extremely popular because it is a distance which suits many people who may not be able to manage the 8km distance.”
The event has adopted the Sweethearts Foundation as its charity this year, which ties in with raising the profile of those in wheelchairs and aligns itself with the race’s characteristic of being wheelchair-friendly.
By collecting plastic bottle tops and bread tags for recycling, the Sweethearts Foundation has raised money to fund 294 wheelchairs, which have been handed over to needy beneficiaries.
SPAR Eastern Cape sponsorship and events manager Alan Stapleton said they were proud to be part of the Summer Fun Run as a prelude to the East London festive season.
“It’s an unofficial extension of our Women’s Challenge that has a strong family and fun feel to it,” he said.
“Secondly, the race echoes our involvement in assisting those with physical disabilities and the Wheelchair Wednesday initiative as it caters specifically for participants in wheelchairs.”
He added that the connection with the Sweethearts Foundation was linked to SPAR EC’s commitment this year to declare war on plastic.
The Eastern Cape company became the first corporate in South Africa to take a stand against the single-use of plastic shopping bags with their Stop Plastic campaign launched in April.
“Our commitment to reducing, re-using and recycling plastic is carried through via the involvement with The Sweethearts Foundation,” said Stapleton.
“And finally, but not least, it is a great opportunity to be able to support our East London retailers who have made SPAR a force to be reckoned with in the region.”
The event takes place from the Orient Pools, starting at 9am. The entry fee for adults is R60 for the 4km (U16s pay R30) and R70 for the 8km (U16s pay R30).
There is a special incentive for corporates to enter at a cost of R55 a person, but there must be a minimum of 10 entries.
Entry details: Visit SPAR Daily Dispatch Summer Fun Run on Facebook and follow the link. Enter online until November 20 and stand a chance to win a share of R20 000 in SPAR vouchers. Alternatively, enter at Sportmans Warehouse, Total Sports, PNA, Wild Coast FM or Daily Dispatch.