The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon aims to make a real impact in key areas with which the world is currently grappling, including climate action, affordable and clean energy, health and well being, as well as peace.

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Its Run4Change programme, which through a series of initiatives and recent key developments, is addressing these critical areas, is calling on a great number of charities to get involved in this year’s springtime event.

The marathon takes place on Sunday, September 15.

The marathon has built up a network of over 50 charities that use the event to leverage change in their respective communities.

Two of these are Township Farmers, which creates small-scale organic farming in previously disadvantaged communities, and Greenpop, which plants indigenous trees, gardens and forest gardens, and runs development workshops and environmental festivals.

Township Farmers, using the hashtag #runningtree, is raising funds to plant 2019 trees in Khayelitsha schools and surrounding neighbourhoods, while Greenpop, using the hashtag #runfortrees, offers free entrance to the 10km Peace run/walk if runners are able to raise R840 – the cost of seven trees.

This year they aim to increase last year’s R2,5 million raised for charity to R3 million.

Race ambassador and Olympian, Elana Van Zyl Meyer is calling on a greater number of charities to seriously consider the benefits and enormous potential the marathon can offer as a platform to yield moral and financial support for the issues they are tackling.

This year they have also extend their partnership with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), asking runners and supporters to raise funds to help beat cancer.

Race director for the marathon, Janet Welham says their goal has always been twofold: to give marathoners a truly world-class city marathon sporting experience, and to create meaningful change in the areas of the environment, society and the economy.

The marathon, which attracted in excess of 23 000 athletes from over 82 countries last year, has won an array of social and environmental awards.

In 2017,  it was one of the first marathons in the world to win the coveted AIMS Green Award; and in 2018 it won a bronze award at the South African Eco-Logic Awards and was voted as the 2018 Event of the Year by Runners World (RSA).

“The marathon’s programmes reflect Olympian values of courage, inspiration, determination, respect, friendship, equality and excellence, so, like sport, carry the enormous potential to bring society together,” says Welham.

“They also challenge us to continually strive for the better in ourselves, both as individuals and as athletes.”

Entries to the September weekend festival of running are filling up quickly.

To enter go to www.capetownmarathon.com

ABOUT THE SANLAM CAPE TOWN MARATHON

Africa’s GOLD, as Africa’s only IAAF Gold Label status marathon, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is an exhilarating festival of running that brings together runners, elite athletes, social joggers and surrounding communities to enjoy a spring weekend of running through Africa’s spectacularly beautiful Mother City.

The classic Olympian 42.2km marathon takes centre stage on the Sunday, which follows a 10km Peace Run in the morning, and two Peace Trail Runs (12km and 22km) and a 5km Peace Run/ Walk on the Saturday.

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