The 16 charities that will collectively win R550, 000 at the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile at Turffontein on Saturday 7 November have been announced. They include the Animal Anti-Cruelty League, which banked R100, 000 in the race last year, when its runner Likeithot kept going in a thrilling finish to snatch a famous victory.
Nine of the charities this year comprise the schools sponsored by the Peermont Children’s Trust, which provides social, educational and emotional upliftment to children in disadvantaged areas of the Ekurhuleni Metro Council, primarily through financial support that ensures they receive an improved quality of education and care.
The Peermont Children’s Trust sponsors after-school care sites at nine primary schools in Tembisa, Katlehong, Kwa-Thema and Vosloorus. This project is monitored by the Department of Education and includes a hot meal, assistance with homework, guidance and life skills education. More than 1.4 million learners have been assisted to date.
The nine schools are Welamlambo Primary, Maphanzela Primary, Reahile Primary, Umkhathize Primary, Fortune Kunene Primary, Jongimfundo Primary, Nageng Primary, Thembakazi Primary and Khangezile Primary.
The other seven charities are the Animal Anti-Cruelty League, the Highveld Horse Care Unit, The Trust - an umbrella organisation that donates money to approved member charities - and four of The Trust’s charities in Autism South Africa, the SanWild Wildlife Trust, WMACA (Women & Men Against Child Abuse) and SMYLe (Soweto Marimba Youth League).
Each of the charities will be represented by a runner in the Charity Mile and the amount won by each charity will be determined by the finishing position of its runner.
Here’s the breakdown of prize money to the charities (should a runner be withdrawn, the relevant charity gets R20 000): 1st - R100,000; 2nd - R70,000; 3rd - R50,000; 4th - R40,000; 5th - R30,000; 6th - R29,000; 7th - R28,000; 8th - R27,000; 9th - R26,000; 10th - R25,000; 11th - R25,000; 12th - R20,000; 13th - R20,000; 14th - R20,000; 15th - R20,000; 16th - R20,000.
More details about the participating charities:
Peermont Children’s Trust schools (Welamlambo Primary, Maphanzela Primary, Reahile Primary, Umkhathize Primary, Fortune Kunene Primary, Jongimfundo Primary, Nageng Primary, Thembakazi Primary and Khangezile Primary)
In general these are schools in poor areas, many of the children have been orphaned and the educators struggle with pupils that are ill and malnourished. The Peermont Children’s Trust initiative provides an oasis for these children orphans with hot meals, assistance with homework, guidance, life skills education and so on.
Highveld Horse Care Unit (HHCU)
The Highveld Horse Care Unit was officially established in 1991 and currently assists with the welfare of more than 2000 working horses and donkeys on any given day. The goal of the unit is to provide care, re-homing and assistance to South African equines and their human owners in a state of need. A Section 21 company, the HHCU is responsible for its own management, funding and operations, and is the largest equine welfare organisation in the Southern hemisphere.
Animal Anti Cruelty League
The Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) has been protecting and caring for animals since 1956. It is South Africa's second largest independent animal welfare organisation, relying entirely on the generosity and goodwill of the animal-loving public for financial support. The AACL is involved with all aspects of animal welfare, including providing shelter for abandoned animals, prosecuting animal cruelty cases and visiting underprivileged areas with fully equipped mobile clinics.
The Trust
The Trust aims to be the primary umbrella organisation in South Africa responsible for actively collecting and distributing donations to member charities approved by it. The Trust also monitors the utilisation of donations by member charities and aims to make it easy, affordable and risk free for individuals and corporates to contribute to reputable and accountable South African charities.
Autism South Africa
Autism South Africa strives to fulfil the educational, psychological and physical needs of children and adults with autism, as well as supporting the families, care providers and the communities of which they are part. Despite receiving no government assistance Autism South Africa does its utmost to provide accessible and affordable services throughout the country, including training professionals to educate learners with autism and distributing a vast amount of relevant information to enhance public and professional awareness and understanding of autism.
SanWild Wildlife Trust
Provides a wildlife sanctuary where injured, orphaned, traumatised or misplaced animals can find a safe home where they can live wild and free among others of their own kind on land purchased and protected by the Trust. SanWild runs a full-time wild animal emergency rescue service. Where necessary expert veterinary procedures are executed to ensure an injured animal’s return to the wild and rescued animals that need prolonged treatment or hand-raising are released into the SanWild sanctuary.
WMACA (Women & Men Against Child Abuse)
Founded in 1997 as a non-government, non-profit organisation, WAMACA runs four Kidz Clinics in Boksburg, Alexandra, Orange Farm and Durban North. These child-friendly one-stop professional centres provide free medical and psychological treatment for children who have been sexually, physically and emotionally abused.
SMYLe
The Soweto Marimba Youth League, also called the Amazing Soweto Kidz, has a 32-year history. This group of internationally recognised and talented teens entertain to raise awareness and money for victims of HIV/AIDS in Soweto.
More information, contact
Robert Garner
General Manager Marketing & Communications
Phumelela
rgarner@phumelela.com
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