The horse, the celebrity and most importantly the charity

This year’s Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile will be the biggest yet with the 16 chosen charities receiving a share of R1-million, a dramatic increase from last year’s total of R550 000.

This Grade Two race, being run on October 31 at Turffontein Racecourse, also boasts prize money of R1-m.

The winning charity will receive R150 000, second place will receive R100 000, with all 14 other charities getting proportionate amounts of the total donation, depending on the allocated horse’s placement.

Here is the list of 12 of the 16 charities chosen so far for the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile 2015:

•  Lesedi Programme (Peermont Education Trust):

The Peermont Education Trust offers deserving previously disadvantaged youth from Ekurhuleni an opportunity to study further through a learnership programme at accredited institutions to enable them to become economically active.

The trust also provides mentorship which includes life skills and emotional intelligence.

Over 550 young people have been sponsored on this programme to date, with 100 per cent of electrical students securing employment and 90 per cent of hospitality students securing employment.

•  “Izimbewu Ze Themba” – Grade R Project (Peermont Community Benefit Trust):

Early Childhood Development and Grade R, in particular, prepare children for school while improving their capacity to develop life-long learning.

The objective of this project is to create a stimulating teaching and learning environment which will enable a greater number of students to perform better throughout their schooling years, and ultimately increase the number of students eligible to select maths and science in Grade Ten.

By providing specialist training for Grade R practitioners in the classroom, the trustees are providing a specialised training model that enables the practitioners to learn the practical application without leaving the class.

To date, four schools have been identified (Reahile Primary School in Katlehong, R P Mapanzela Primary School in Thokoza and Fortune Kunene Primary School and Nageng Primary School in Vosloorus) which covers 330 children in ten classes with ten practitioners.

•  Peermont Children’s Trust (PCT):

The Peermont Children’s Trust assists ten schools in the Gauteng area by assisting with the provision of school uniforms ever year, daily hot meals for all pupils, food parcels for the school holidays, building of jungle gyms and an annual Christmas party.

The majority of these schools are in very underprivileged areas with many children being orphaned and malnourished.

The trust also assists with aftercare programmes and assistance with homework which helps the pupils to improve on their academic results and school attendance.

In fact, the Peermont Children’s Trust after school programmes supports nine centres that cater for 22 primary schools in Gauteng.

The trust works very closely with the Department of Social Development and Department of Education.

•  The ten schools include:

1.  Welamlambo Primary, Tembisa
2.  Maphanzela Primary, Thokoza
3.  Reahile Primary, Katlehong
4.  Umkhathize Primary, Thokoza
5.  Fortune Kunene, Vosloorus
6. Jongimfundo Primary, Vosloorus
7.  Nageng Primary, Vosloorus
8.  Khangezile, Kwa-Thema
9.  Thembakazi, Vosloorus
10.  Star Schools, Springs and Vosloorus

The interventions at the Star School centres in Springs and Vosloorus are particularly remarkable, with a dedicated focus being on mathematics and sciences, more specifically to achieve better and higher pass rates for mathematics and science between Grade Ten and 12, enabling, amongst other things, entry into post school intervention programmes.

Since its inception, 2 400 pupils have benefited from this project.

Last year saw the National Horse Trust receive a cheque for R100 000 when Bezanova, ridden by Weichong Marwing, raced to victory at the prestigious 2014 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile.

Mrs South Africa 2014 Sarah Kate Scott was the winning celebrity.

There are various hospitality options available, including a fully inclusive package in the Aquanaut or Furious Room and Deck with a prime view of the race track, as well as packages including a buffet lunch and cash bar.

For hospitality bookings call 011 681-1702.

To make attending this exciting and significant race day all the more appealing, the rugby final will be broadcast on screens in all the main hospitality areas from 5pm.

Come and support world class racing, charity and rugby.

See you at the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile on October 31.