The founder and director of Icon’s Journey Marathon Foundation, Chief Vulithuba Sangoni, confirmed that they had hosted a gala dinner event at the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha, with the aim of raising funds to assist the 400km Iconic Challengers to reach and exceed their target.
This challenge has already started on Sunday, July 23.
The stakeholders pledged different things that they would be doing to assist in this event.
He said that in this event they also welcomed 12 runners who are participating in this challenge; they come from different provinces of South Africa.
“We are wishing them success as we are hosting this fundraising gala dinner. It is hosted by Absa Bank, Nelson Mandela Museum and other stakeholders, including the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
These runners are running with the aim of raising funds that we will use to assist in the needs of learners from different areas in the beginning of 2024,” said Sangoni.
He confirmed that so far they have donors from Ireland, London, and the United Kingdom who are also coming on board.
ICYMI | Icon’s Journey Marathon Challenge has kicked off in Alice
Sangoni said that they also have a company called GAA that is represented by Lungisa Nomnganga. He said that this company had committed themselves to donate 650 soccer kits.
“We also have other organisations, led by Sindiso Joya, who are also pledging to donate soccer kit. We will get those things late this year.”
He also confirmed that the 400km Icon’s Journey Marathon had already started on Sunday, July 23.
They started from Fort Hare University in Alice to Fort Beaufort.
On Monday, July 24 they started from Fort Beaufort to Whittlesea; then on Tuesday, July 25 from Whittlesea to Queenstown.
On Wednesday, July 26 they started from Queenstown to Half Way Cofimvaba; on July Thursday, 27 they started from Half Way Cofimvaba to Cofimvaba.
On Friday, July 28, their starting point will be Cofimvaba to Ngcobo and on Saturday, July 29 from Ngcobo to Clarkebury Senior Secondary School.
On Sunday, July 30 they will start from Clarkebury Senior Secondary School at 03:00 to Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha.
Mayor for King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality, Councillor Nyaniso Nelani, said that it is a good movement, even though it had been started recently. He said that KSD is not just a space but a place where everybody want to be.
“If we can have more people like Sangoni coming together, surely we can take our country forward.
“I am standing here and making an appeal that we can join this movement. We are supporting you whole-heartedly, in fact now we are partners,” said Nelani.
MEC for the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Nonceba Kontsiwe, said that this marathon is changing people’s lives for the best. She said that they commend the work that has been made by Sangoni.
“We want to have a partnership with you so that this initiative can grow,” said Kontsiwe.
The names of the runners who took part in this Icon’s Journey Marathon Challenge are Pulane Mathibela from Pretoria, Tulamo Maubane from Gauteng, Alex Tshilidzi Makatu from Limpopo, Thabo Kala from Gauteng, Tumo Mokgatla from Orange Free State, Nteke Kakudi from Orange Free State, Ramadimetsa Destiny Modiba from Limpopo, Segolobo Devantia Mathatho from Western Cape, Michelle Amanda Mvinjelwa from Western Cape, Fikile Sindane from Gauteng, dr Benjamin Manasoe from Limpopo and Afrika Tau from Gauteng.
