Run and have fun in Wattville this weekend to gift a girl sanitary pads

Benoni’s Pad a Girl Campaign, a registered NPO and NPC whose mission is to restore dignity to girl children through the supply of sanitary pads, is hosting a charity run to raise funds for their work.

Join them for a 5km, 10km and 15km at Mabaleng Pub and Grill in Wattville, Benoni, on August 8, from 07:00.

The entry fee is three packets of sanitary pads.

Pad a Girl’s co-founder and chairperson, Siyabulela Lindi, said the mission of the day is to raise as many sanitary pad donations as possible, which they will distribute to disadvantaged schools.

“Whether you run, walk or simply cheer from the sidelines, your participation will make a massive impact!” she urged.

The NPO was established in April 2019 by Lindi and Thando Andrias to serve Gauteng schools in need.

“In the early stages, the initiative was not formalised; it was more of a trial run to see how the community would respond.

“We funded it out of our own pockets and also asked friends, family and colleagues for donations, as well as made appeals on Facebook.

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“In 2020, two other members joined and proposed we formalise things so we can grow at a steady rate and, most importantly, be visible to our intended stakeholders.”

With the organisation growing from strength to strength, they now operate in four provinces – the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.

All the provinces have representatives to assume full responsibility for operations and team leaders who report to the members during virtual meetings.

But there is still work to do, Lindi said.

“While we have made great strides, we still have a lot to accomplish. Menstrual cycles pose a big challenge and lead to girls missing school because they don’t have pads, or they use unhygienic alternatives.

“It remains our wish to outdo our goals and extend to other provinces.

“This is where we need the community’s help – whether it be sanitary pads or monetary donations.

“As already mentioned, the representatives contribute finances monthly into our bank account with the help of respective stakeholders, like friends and colleagues, and we have successfully also introduced charity fun runs as a means of raising sanitary pads and funds for our sustainability.”

Monetary donations: Pad a Girl Campaign NPC / First National Bank /Account number 62860883753

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