Founder of The Icon’s Journey Marathon Challenge, Chief Vulithuba Sangoni, confirmed a partnership with different stakeholders as it readies to present the fourth edition of the Icon’s Journey Marathon, from July 14 to 21.
The Icon’s Journey boasts of the following events:
This year’s edition of the 400km Iconic Challenge, hosted on the World’s Longest Liberation Route, will see 12 social runners, better known as “Icons 4 Change”, representing eight provinces, take on a gruelling 400km distance over eight days, broken down into seven consecutive 42.2km distances, and 103kms on day eight, through the route declared by National Heritage Council as the Eastern Cape Resistance & Liberation Heritage Route.
“Starting will be at Fort Hare University in Alice, touching Fort Beaufort, Whittlesea, Komani, Cofimvaba, Ngcobo, Clarkebury, Baziya, Mqhekezweni, Qunu and Qokolweni, and finishing at Nelson Mandela Museum, Bhunga Building in Mthatha,” said Sangoni.
For the first time since launching the initiative in 2021, they will have a representative from eight of the nine provinces, Lukhanyo Ziphethe from the Northern Cape, Reggie Gebuza from the Eastern Cape, Masamuel Mayana from the Free State, Themba Mkhangeli from the Western Cape, Nkosi Vulithuba Sangoni from the Eastern Cape, Abigail Lombo from KwaZulu-Natal, Mongezi Plank from the Eastern Cape, Miyelani Magaza from Mpumalanga, Sithembiso Soyaya from the Eastern Cape, Nic Shelver from Gauteng, Enock Kgoete from Limpopo and Tebogo Malebatsi from Gauteng.
This year the runners are challenging 4 000 South Africans to pledge R100 each on their BackaBuddy crowd fundraising platform, which will see them raising R400 000 that will benefit over 30 000 school kids nationwide.
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Fundraising gala dinner
“On July 12, Nelson Mandela Museum and Absa will host a fundraising gala dinner at Bhunga Building, in an effort to assist the 400km Iconic Challengers to reach and exceed their target, a unique event in its own right that sees traditional leaders, political and private sector leaders, schools, and members of the media under one roof to welcome the 400 km participants,” Sangoni said. There will be 10-seater tables sold at R5 000, and these funds will also go towards the 400km iconic challenge bag.
Hiking event returns
The hiking event from July 19 to 21 will return for the fourth time. The 35km hike over two days will see hikers walk from Hluleka Nature Reserve to Hole in the Wall in Coffee Bay.
“On July 20, we are reversing the cycling route that will take daring cyclists on a journey over two Kingdoms, from Mpondoland to Thembuland. A 61km road bike event starting at 07:00 from Ntlaza Caltex Garage, via R61, will finish at Port St Johns Stadium. On July 21 is the running event.
Entry information
Entries are still open online until midnight on Sunday, June 30, and that will also be the closing date for those looking to receive the 500 free Iconic t-shirts.
Physical entries will thereafter be obtained from Nelson Mandela Museum, Absa Branches in Mthatha, King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality (KSD), and Port St Johns (PSJ) Municipality, Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), Savoy Hotel, and Buffalo Toyota.
For entry and pricing information go to www.theiconsjourneymarathon.com.
, Ngcobo, Clarkebury, Baziya, Mqhekezweni, Qunu, Qokolweni and finishing at Nelson Mandela Museum, Bhunga Building in Mthatha,” said Sangoni.
For the first time since launching the initiative in 2021 they will have a representation of eight of the nine provinces.
Lukhanyo Ziphethe from Northern Cape; Reggie Gebuza from Eastern Cape; Masamuel Mayana from Free State Province, Themba Mkhangeli from Western Cape, Nkosi Vulithuba Sangoni from Eastern Cape, Abigail Lombo from Kwa Zulu Natal, Mongezi Plank-from Eastern Cape
Miyelani Magaza from Mpumalanga, Sithembiso Soyaya from Eastern Cape, Nic Shelver from Gauteng, Enock Kgoete from Limpopo Province and Tebogo Malebatsi from Gauteng Province.
This year the runners are challenging 4 000 South Africans to pledge R100 each on their back a buddy crowd raising platform that will see them raising R4 000 that will benefit over 30 000 school kids nationwide.
Fundraising gala dinner
“On July 12, Nelson Mandela Museum and Absa will be hosting a fundraising Gala Dinner at Bhunga Building in an effort to assist the 400km Iconic Challengers reach and exceed their target a unique event in its own right that sees traditional leaders, political and private sector leaders, schools and members of the media under one roof to welcome the 400 km participants,” Sangoni said. There are 10x seater tables sold at R5 000 and these funds will also go towards the 400km iconic challenge bag.
Hiking event returns
The hiking event from July 19 to July 21 is returning for the fourth time. The 35km over two days hike will see hikers walk from Hluleka Nature Reserve to Hole in the Wall in Coffee Bay.
“On July 20, we are reversing the cycling route that will take daring cyclists on a journey over two Kingdoms from Mpondoland to Thembuland. A 61km road bike event starting at 07:00 from Ntlaza Caltex Garage via R61 finishing at Port St Johns Stadium. On July 21 is the running event.
Entry information
Entries are still open online until Sunday midnight on June 30 and that will also be the closing date for those looking to receive the 500 free Iconic t-shirts.
Physical entries will thereafter be obtained from Nelson Mandela Museum, Absa Branches in Mthatha, King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality (KSD) and Port St Johns (PSJ) Municipalities, Department of Sport Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), Savoy Hotel, Buffalo Toyota.For entry and pricing information go to www.theiconsjourneymarathon.com.
