Mr Price Foundation Teams Up With Comrades

The exciting announcement of the fundraiser’s new partner, the Comrades Marathon Association, has brought a new element to the event, which was previously a 606km cycle ride from Secunda to Durban. Now, both sporting enthusiasts and ordinary people have an opportunity to cycle or run in a virtual challenge, opening up the ‘field’ to participants from across the globe. 

For cyclists, the 11th edition of the epic fundraising event will have a wide variety of options for both amateur and professional cyclists with distances ranging from 10km, 45km, 90km, 303km and 606km. Historically, the event was only open to less than 100 elite cyclists but this edition presents the possibility of thousands of cyclists of all ages from around the world participating.

The Challenge also offers runners the opportunity to complete 3km, 7km or 21km, making it a fun family event. Participants can opt to do both the run and the ride.

“We are pleased to be involved with the Mr Price Foundation Challenge. It’s decade-long history and social upliftment footprint is worth celebrating. As the Comrades Marathon Association, we look forward to doing more great things with the Foundation and to further our contribution to the social and environmental landscape through such admirable initiatives,”  said Comrades Marathon Association General Manager, Keletso Totlhanyo.

The previous ‘Ride with Purpose’ has been the Mr Price Foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser to help the NGO break the cycle of poverty and inequality among the youth of South Africa. Mr Price Foundation has helped to empower thousands of young South Africans through its high-impact education and skills development programmes. 

The Foundation’s holistic schools programme is currently implemented in 98 primary schools in KwaZulu-Natal (Hammarsdale and Tongaat), QwaQwa, Soweto and Mitchell’s Plain, positively impacting over 64,000 learners daily. 

Jump Start, the Foundation’s skills development programme, is a work readiness programme that trains unemployed young people and links them to career opportunities in the retail sector and supply chain. It bridges the gap between school and the world of work by providing candidates with life skills and experiential training to help them enter the job market better prepared.

Karen Wells, Head of the Mr Price Foundation said, “While 2020 has been an extremely challenging year, it has also opened up a world of infinite possibilities, like making this a global virtual event. We are thrilled to be partnering with one of the country’s oldest sporting organisations and events to take the Challenge to a new level, and hopefully raise more funds and awareness for the upliftment of our youth!” 

Wells added, “The great thing about this year's inaugural virtual event is that every participant will receive a coveted Mr Price Foundation Challenge medal. We look forward to making this a fun and memorable event."