The founder and director of Icon’s Journey Foundation, Chief Vulithuba Sangoni, confirmed that they will be hosting a gala dinner at the Bhunga Building in Mthatha on Friday, July 21, starting at 17:30, in an effort to assist the 400km Iconic Challengers who will participate in The Icon’s Journey Marathon 2023 to reach and exceed their target.
Absa Bank, Nelson Mandela Museum and the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture will host the event.
Sangoni said this gala dinner aims to raise funds to assist in the Icon’s Journey Marathon that will start on Sunday, July 23, at Fort Hare University in Alice until Sunday, July 30.
“At this gala dinner, we will also be introducing 12 runners who will be participating in the 400km to raise funds for charity,” said Sangoni.
He confirmed that each seat is R500, but if the attendees buy a table, it will cost R5 000. He confirmed that there would also be food and entertainment.
“At this gala dinner, people will pledge what they are going to do to help this charity.”
These 12 runners will start from Fort Hare University in Alice at 07:00 on Sunday, July 23.
On July 24, they will begin to from Beaufort to Whittlesea; then, on Tuesday, July 25, they will begin to from Whittlesea to Half Way to Cofimvaba.
On Wednesday, July 26, they will start from Half Way to Cofimvaba to Ngcobo; then on Thursday, July 27, their starting point will be Ngcobo to Clarkebury Senior Secondary School; then on Friday, July 28, they will start from Clarkebury Senior Secondary School to Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha.
“They will be running 42 kilometres each day; then on the last day, they will be running 103km to make that 400km.”
He confirmed they had also included learners from different schools who would also participate in the marathon.
Six learners from each school will participate.
“This event aims to raise funds to benefit learners in rural and township schools with basic necessities that keep them in school, like school shoes and uniforms, sanitary pads, sports kits and equipment.
“The first two years of the event have seen over 4 000 school children benefiting from our initiative in all provinces.”
