Membership at Helderberg Harriers Athletics Club is on the rise and the club is aiming to break the 200-member mark this year.
“We’ve seen an uptick in memberships mainly due to the friendliness of members and the committee,” the club said in a statement. “Informal pack runs on Saturday mornings and time trials on Tuesday evenings are proving to be immensely popular.”
Helderberg Harriers, which was established in 1977, was once one of the biggest running clubs in the basin, but from the early 2000s to 2017 its member numbers started dwindling to just under 100 members.
With a new infusion of a fresh young committee the club’s membership started picking up as it boasted an increase to 138 members in 2018. The following year the member tally increased to 168 active members indicated a positive uptick for the Harriers.
Then the Covid-19 pandemic struck in early 2020 and the club was again in danger of losing membership, as with many clubs countrywide. But this was not to be, as Harriers’ executive committee implemented fresh ideas and hosted virtual runs for charities in need during the first year of the daunting lockdown period.
These generated funds were donated to more than six charities during that year, with the hope that it would assist the club with continuing its good work in trying pandemic-induced times. To top this off, Helderberg Harriers’ membership grew to 178 members in 2020, while it further grew to 195 members last year.
“One of the highlights of 2021 was the year-end run, in which 50 runners participated and took to the streets in the 10 km Anna Foundation Run.
“The entry fee was a donation of stationery, which would be handed over to the foundation. We received a large sum of donations, handed it over to them and they were really appreciative.”
V For more information on Helderberg Harriers, send an email to info@helderbergharriers.co.za
