CAPE TOWN – It was a memorable day for the Athlone running team, Ultra Athletics Running Club, as Absa handed over funds that were raised through the Absa Run Your City series in Cape Town.
The club is based in Athlone and trains at the Vygieskraal Stadium, and the participants of the Absa Run Your City Cape Town 10k raised R40 000, which will go a long way in growing the running community.
This handover follows the introduction of the Absa Run Your City campaign that was launched earlier in the year titled Together we can be more, Siyabangena. Siyabangena – the campaign is a strategic campaign that encourages Absa colleagues, customers, and community members to Be a Force for Good in their respective communities.
“Absa aims to create a meaningful impact to develop communities it operates in. We pride ourselves in making possibilities come to life, and through this campaign, we have focused on creating meaningful relationships both with our colleagues and customers who in turn have assisted us in being able to give back to the community and restore hope for our chosen running club and ultimately inspire more people to take up running as their choice of exercise to stay fit,” said ABSA’s Haroon Abrahams.
“Running is one of the few sports that people start as kids and can continue for decades after. It significantly improves one’s physical, mental, and personal well-being. With these funds, we hope to encourage everyone managing the running club to continue mentoring and guiding their young members and attract new ones to the sport. We wish to see them participating in more competitive athletic programs in the future.”
The club’s aim is to take the kids off the streets, and that’s something their mentor and coach Waleed Donough says they needed it as the communities have been battling with substance abuse.
He explained that having the club has helped a lot of young kids become better and tomorrow’s stars.
“We are truly honored to be one of the running clubs chosen by ABSA.”
Ultra Athletics is a community-based club that caters to the needs of athletes within our underprivileged communities,” Donough said.
“Majority of our members are school-going youth, and keeping them active and off the streets is our goal. Through the running club, not only can running help them stay fit and healthy, but it can also teach them valuable life lessons and skills that will translate into other areas.”
