Durban, 24 November 2022 – In showing support towards the community of KwaZulu-Natal affected by the devastating floods in April this year, Pan-African bank, Absa, in partnership with Stillwater Sports, PUMA and DHL, have donated relief funds worth R342 000 to LIV Village.
This follows the introduction of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY campaign that was launched earlier in the year titled Together we can be more, Siyabangena. Siyabangena is a strategic campaign that encourages Absa colleagues, customers, and communities to be a force for good in their respective communities. For every 1km run/walked by a Team Absa member on Strava, the bank donated R1 to make a difference.
The 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K took place on Sunday, 10 July, and the Absa RUN YOUR CITY partners, Stillwaters Sports, PUMA and DHL each pledged to match the funds raised at the race to create a meaningful impact in the KZN community. As a result, a total of R342 000 was handed over to the chosen NGO.
“The effects of natural disasters continue to be felt long after they have occurred. It surely doesn’t get easier as the South African Weather Service keeps issuing warnings of disruptive rainfall across the country. As a bank, our communities need us to step in and demonstrate our role to create a meaningful impact whenever we can. The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series helps us to drive our strategic pillars of being closer to our customers, colleagues and the community with the campaign specifically focused on the pillar of being close to communities,” said Rendani Muambadzi, Regional Executive, Physical Channels at the Absa Group.
“We are happy to be back in KZN to fulfil the promise that we made in July and officially hand over the funds that we raised during the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K. We are pleased that our partnership with Stillwater Sports, PUMA and DHL has provided us the opportunity to ensure that vulnerable children continue to have a place they can call home where all their basic needs will be met with love and care. More importantly, restore hope and help provide a stable future for the children,” Muambadzi continued.
“The past couple of years have been an emotional roller-coaster for all South Africans, but even more so for Durban residents who not only had to contend with the pandemic and riots, but also the aftermath of severe floods,” said Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series. “An event like the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K does not exist in isolation. Therefore, when the city and/or its residents are in need, it’s imperative to show support. We are proud to have headline partners like Absa, PUMA and DHL, who immediately jumped at the opportunity, with Stillwater Sports, to get involved. We are especially thankful to each and every entrant for making this donation possible. Your efforts provided us with the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of many. We look forward to returning to Durban in 2023.”
“The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is special for various reasons,” said Brett Bellinger, Marketing Director of PUMA South Africa. “It’s a mass participation road race that allows everyday runners to touch shoulders with the elites. The routes are action-packed with fantastic on-route activations and each event gives back to the community by supporting between four and five local charities. This year in Durban our appreciation of the series was strengthened further not only when the event organisers presented their plan to launch the #RunForDurban campaign, but also by the fact that other headline sponsors such as Absa and DHL did not hesitate to get involved, proving that the individual brands have even more in common. It was an absolute pleasure to stand together with these iconic brands in support of Durban.”
“It was a privilege to team up with Absa, PUMA and Stillwater Sports, as we decided to add a purpose-driven outcome to our partnership with the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K,” said Jed Michaletos, Managing Director DHL Express South Africa. “Sport truly does have the power to change lives, and the event created a great platform to show our support. We are thankful for the opportunity and trust that the funds raised will be put to good use.”
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